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Durban – A man accused of killing two ANC members told the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban on Friday he no longer wanted his Legal Aid attorney and would represent himself.
“I am not happy with how my representative has argued my defence in this court,” Alex Mbhele, told Judge King Ndlovu.
The court was hearing final submissions in a case involving the killing of two ANC Oshabeni branch leaders in 2012.
One of them had been running for a ward councillor position at the time.
Prosecutor Korne Radyn said in his submission that Samuel Cele, 34, Mbhele, 32, and State witness Sifiso Khumalo had planned the murder of Dumisani Malunga, who was running for ward councillor.
Malunga was shot dead as he was travelling home on the evening of September 9 2012. Gabriel Chiliza, a passenger, was also killed.
Khumalo, who was an ANC Youth League leader at the time, was convicted and jailed for his role in the crime after confessing.
Radyn said Malunga and Khumalo were among four ANC members vying for the position of ward councillor for Oshabeni, in Port Shepstone, after the previous councillor died.
Cele, a taxi owner in the area, backed Khumalo’s candidacy and canvassed support for him.
Radyn said when Khumalo realised he might not win the election, Cele proposed they kill Malunga. They allegedly enlisted Mbhele to help in the killing.
Stumbling blocks
As Legal Aid attorney Marian Pieterse began her submission for the defence, Mbhele asked that she not represent him any longer.
“He feels I am not representing him in a proper way,” Pieterse said.
Ndlovu told Mbhele that the case was at its end and no new evidence would be led.
“All the witnesses have now testified for the State and for the defence and everything is closed."
He said the two counsels were not testifying, but merely making submissions on the evidence that had been presented.
Ndlovu adjourned proceedings to Monday, telling Mbhele he should discuss the matter with Pieterse.
