Inside Judge Mokgoatlheng's apology for courtroom outburst

PRESIDING judge in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Ratha Mokgoatlheng yesterday apologised following his court outburst where he made several remarks with racial undertones last week.

- JONISAYI MAROMO

The judge made his apology in court, as the court session resumed yesterday morning, where five men are on trial for the 2014 murder of Bafana Bafana star Senzo Meyiwa.

"There is one thing I must attend to, all of us I am sure we read newspapers. It is proper that I should address this issue. Initially I want to say, I have been 26 years on the bench, as an acting judge, and as a judge. I have never ever behaved the way I did (on Thursday). I have been 30 years as an attorney before I became a judge," the judge addressed the people in court.

"I spoke to the JP (judge president) and the JP spoke to me together with the DJP. The JP rightfully excoriated me for my conduct, that it is not befitting of a judge of my experience and my stature that I should have behaved like I did. And I agree, my conduct was questionable and incorrect.