Legal teams clash over scope of Mchunu's corruption defence

DRAMA unfolded at the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Friday night after an evidence leader objected to the manner of the reexamination of suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu by his legal representative.

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

Advocate Mahlape Sello SC objected to the extent of Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC’s reexamination of Mchunu after he concluded giving evidence at the commission of inquiry investigating allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

A visibly exasperated Sello interjected while Ngcukaitobi was reexamining Mchunu.

“Chair, I apologise, Mr. Ngcukaitobi, I beg your forgiveness. | have bitten my tongue for a long time, on particularly this that Mr. Ngcukaitobi is ‘reexamining’ the witness. None of that evidence has been led before this commission.

The issues that he has spent a significant time speaking to are matters that are going to be dealt with in the second part of the inquiry,” she explained.

Sello said she struggled to understand how the issues on which Ngcukaitobi was reexamining Mchunu could possibly fall under the category of reexamination.