30 Jul 2020

Investigations in Polson Majaga’s defilement case are almost complete.

Investigating officer, Senior Superintendent Galesite Lesego told Nata Magistrate Court on Tuesday that when the case was reported, the victim was expectant and she had since given birth.

He revealed that his team  had managed to collect blood samples from the mother and the new born baby for paternity test, thus they were filing an application with the court for the accused person to provide blood samples to enable comparison, which he said would conclude their investigations. 

Supt. Lesego also revealed that they had finished the court with recorded statements from witnesses.

In response to the application, defence attorney, Mishingo Jeremiah requested the court to have the state, represented by State Counsel Kefilwe Jeremia, to do the application in writing and for the accused person, who is Nata/Gweta MP, to be allowed to also respond in writing.

Senior Magistrate Keabetswe Majuta said she would make a ruling on the request made by the defence on August 25.

Meanwhile, the defence also told the court that some statements, which may compromise the case, had been published, adding that such was tantamount to contempt of court. 

The defence said the article in question appeared on the first page of The Voice newspaper dated May 15 and read; Majaga must pay and on the second page; Angry father demands imprisonment for Nata/Gweta MP.

He said the writer interviewed a potential witness in the case, with the article reading as a witness giving evidence in court, only lacking cross examination. 

The defence attorney said the said article ‘spoke’ badly of the accused person and even gave character evidence in relation to his client.

He thus said the position of law is that when the matter is before court, any person is barred from discussing it, noting that discussion of that matter is in contempt of court. 

He also pointed out that there was also a video, which was the source of the print version,  that is currently circulating in the official Facebook page of The Voice. It was posted on the May 17, he said. 

He said the last time he checked it had 200 000 views, noting  that a publication of that nature is compromising delivery of justice as it may influence other potential witnesses before they could be called before court. It may also influence the court, he said.

He therefore requested the court to consider calling the publisher of The Voice, writer of the article Kabelo Dipholo and the source, who was giving the publication information, to show cause why they should not be held accountable for contempt of court. 

He asked the court to determine and make a ruling on the matter, which he said was crucial to the defence. 

In response, the magistrate said she was still to inform herself on the matter and would make a ruling on it on August 25. ENDS