Shebeshxt trial postponed to May 2027 despite bid to remove magistrate
Chauke's newly appointed advocate, Sydwell Sikhwari, informed the court that he was not prepared to proceed.
The trial of Lehlohonolo Chauke, commonly known as Shebeshxt, has been rescheduled to May 2027, as announced by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Polokwane Regional Court. The postponement came after a pre-trial conference the day before, according to Limpopo NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi. Chauke is accused of 21 offenses, comprising four attempted murders, robbery with aggravating circumstances, culpable homicide, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The NPA confirmed that they plan to present 22 witnesses during the trial, while Chauke's defense team has yet to confirm their witness list. Chauke's newly appointed lawyer, Sydwell Sikhwari, expressed his concerns about the lack of preparation time, stating that the defense needs to review approximately 500 pages of new documentation before proceeding.
Sikhwari further argued that the accused should not have a fair trial with the current magistrate, as he has changed attorneys multiple times and his conduct is impacting the proceedings. Magistrate Ntilane dismissed the defense's request to remove herself from the case, as she found Chauke's frequent attorney changes to be infringing his own rights.
The defense also mentioned their intention to file a bail application based on new facts, seek the Director of Public Prosecutions' permission, and apply for Magistrate Ntilane's removal due to alleged bias.
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