South Africa's courtrooms have seen a number of high-profile dramas this year.
lThe Oscar Pistorius murder trial took centre stage for most of the year.
Judge Thokozile Masipa convicted the disabled athlete of culpable homicide in September for shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, after mistaking her for an intruder.
The spotlight will shift to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) next year when the prosecution appeals Pistorius’ acquittal for murder.
lBritish businessman Shrien Dewani was declared free to go home midway through his trial for the murder of his wife Anni, who was killed on honeymoon in South Africa in 2010. Cape Town High Court Judge Jeanette Traverso discharged Dewani this month after the prosecution failed to prove its case. The Dewanis’ taxi driver and two other men were convicted for Anni’s murder and claimed they conspired with Shrien.
lIt was the police’s turn in the crossfire when a suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa was released for lack of evidence. Charges against Zamokuhle Mbatha were withdrawn.
lThe prosecuting authority (NPA) notched up a victory when the SCA increased the sentence of former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown to 15 years in prison. The Cape Town High Court fined hism of R150000 for two convictions of fraud. He is to apply for leave to appeal against his sentence in the Constitutional Court.
lAn Electoral Court ruling led to the resignation of IEC chair Pansy Tlakula. The court found her guilty of misconduct over the leasing of the commission’s headquarters. The Constitutional Court dismissed her request to appeal and she resigned.
lThe DA won a long battle for the so-called “spy tapes” and other documents used by the NPA to justify dropping fraud and corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma.
lThe Marikana Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin’s platinum mine completed its hearings in November. Its final report is due in April.
lAlmost a year after former president Nelson Mandela died, his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, went to court to challenge his will. She insists she has a claim to the late statesman’s Qunu home in Eastern Cape.
lIn a rare and traumatic case of mistaken identity, two Gauteng mothers ended up in court after they discovered that their children, now aged four, were swapped at birth. After investigating at the request of the Pretoria High Court, the Centre for Child Law has advised the children should stay where they are but the court is yet to make a ruling.
lCell C was left with egg on the face when it failed in its court bid to have a massive banner erected by a disgruntled client taken down. The massive banner denounced a Cell C branch for poor service.
Year of high court drama
lThe Oscar Pistorius murder trial took centre stage for most of the year.
Judge Thokozile Masipa convicted the disabled athlete of culpable homicide in September for shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, after mistaking her for an intruder.
The spotlight will shift to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) next year when the prosecution appeals Pistorius’ acquittal for murder.
lBritish businessman Shrien Dewani was declared free to go home midway through his trial for the murder of his wife Anni, who was killed on honeymoon in South Africa in 2010. Cape Town High Court Judge Jeanette Traverso discharged Dewani this month after the prosecution failed to prove its case. The Dewanis’ taxi driver and two other men were convicted for Anni’s murder and claimed they conspired with Shrien.
lIt was the police’s turn in the crossfire when a suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa was released for lack of evidence. Charges against Zamokuhle Mbatha were withdrawn.
lThe prosecuting authority (NPA) notched up a victory when the SCA increased the sentence of former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown to 15 years in prison. The Cape Town High Court fined hism of R150000 for two convictions of fraud. He is to apply for leave to appeal against his sentence in the Constitutional Court.
lAn Electoral Court ruling led to the resignation of IEC chair Pansy Tlakula. The court found her guilty of misconduct over the leasing of the commission’s headquarters. The Constitutional Court dismissed her request to appeal and she resigned.
lThe DA won a long battle for the so-called “spy tapes” and other documents used by the NPA to justify dropping fraud and corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma.
lThe Marikana Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin’s platinum mine completed its hearings in November. Its final report is due in April.
lAlmost a year after former president Nelson Mandela died, his ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, went to court to challenge his will. She insists she has a claim to the late statesman’s Qunu home in Eastern Cape.
lIn a rare and traumatic case of mistaken identity, two Gauteng mothers ended up in court after they discovered that their children, now aged four, were swapped at birth. After investigating at the request of the Pretoria High Court, the Centre for Child Law has advised the children should stay where they are but the court is yet to make a ruling.
lCell C was left with egg on the face when it failed in its court bid to have a massive banner erected by a disgruntled client taken down. The massive banner denounced a Cell C branch for poor service.
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