Advocate Charles Mnisi crosses the finish line at the marathon
Defence lawyer in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial advocate Charles Mnisi has crossed the finish line, completing the Comrade's Marathon.
According to the marathon tracker, Mnisi finished at about 4:27pm and his average pace was 07:09 min/km. The tracker indicates that he started his marathon at about 5.45am.
Mnisi came under fire last week when judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, who is presiding over the murder trial, was furious when he asked to be excused from court to accommodate his plan to run the marathon.
In an email sent to the court's registrar, Mnisi asked for a message to be relayed to the judge about his planned absence. He represents two accused in the trial, which is scheduled to be in session on Monday.
I just saw Advocate Charles Mnisi running a marathon here in Pinetown. This gentleman is more committed to this thing than to the Senzo Meyiwa court case. 🌚 pic.twitter.com/mz0EbWNb5i
— Ruud Krol🏴☠️ (@Mvuh04Chili) June 8, 2025
Advocate Charles Mnisi after finishing the Comrades Marathon. pic.twitter.com/sMaFweq3yk
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) June 8, 2025
Mokgoatlheng, who has previously voiced his frustration at the delays in the case, expressed his displeasure that Mnisi intended to skip a court day and that he didn't write to him directly.
He cited examples of other court officials, including judges, who manage to run marathons without allowing their personal commitments to interfere with court proceedings.
'I must go and tell the judge president, when the JP asks me, why were you not sitting, or the deputy judge president, why were you not sitting on Monday? No, I'm waiting for advocate Mnisi to drive back to Joburg, to wherever, because he was running a marathon. This is South Africa, run by blacks. I can tell you now, even if you call me Uncle Tom, I don't think a white advocate can have the gall to ask me that. Never,' he said.
The matter is expected to resume on Monday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
Critical condition for Fish Hoek athlete Moira Harding after Comrades Marathon incident
Moira Harding, was found on Mahatma Gandhi (formerly Point) Road in Durban on Monday morning after going missing on Sunday June 8. Fish Hoek Athletics Club (FHAC) member Moira Harding, 54, is in a critical condition in an Umhlanga hospital after she wandered off and went missing after completing the Comrades Marathon on Sunday. Athletics club clubhouse manager, Andre Blom, said Harding had been wearing an "in case of emergency" rubber bracelet with her emergency contact details when she was found. He said thanks to the information on the bracelet, her husband had been contacted. IOL reported that a missing persons report was filed after friends and family were unable to locate her following her 5pm race finish, prompting a full-scale search. Police in KwaZulu-Natal are piecing together the circumstances around her initial disappearance.
IOL News
13 hours ago
- IOL News
Meyiwa trial in turmoil again as judge sparks outrage — 'He must go'
Last week, after Judge Mokgoatlheng made a series of inappropriate remarks — first berating a defence lawyer for requesting time off to run the Comrades Marathon, then launching into a monologue about black lawyers, race relations, and his political history. The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial — already marred by controversy — has entered another crisis, with growing calls for presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng to recuse himself following racially charged courtroom comments and political outbursts. Over the past decade, the case has come to symbolise dysfunction in South Africa's justice system. It has featured the arrest and public humiliation of Advocate Malesela Teffo, courtroom chaos, and persistent speculation around singer Kelly Khumalo's alleged involvement in Meyiwa's killing. Now, it faces what could be its most serious credibility blow yet: a presiding judge accused of losing impartiality. Last week, after Judge Mokgoatlheng made a series of inappropriate remarks — first berating a defence lawyer for requesting time off to run the Comrades Marathon, then launching into a monologue about black lawyers, race relations, and his political history. He also made unsolicited comments about President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling him his 'junior' and referencing shared links to the ANC and Azapo. The remarks triggered outrage both inside and outside the courtroom, with many calling them inappropriate, irrelevant, and undignified. In response, the judge issued a lengthy apology on Monday. 'If you believe that I, as a judge, am so useless, dumb, and you think you can't get a fair trial from me, please tell me, I will recuse myself,' he told lawyers in court. 'I don't want to impose myself on people who doubt my integrity, honour and dignity.' He went on to insist that he is not racist, citing his presence at the historic 1955 Congress of the People in Kliptown alongside his father. 'If I trampled on anybody's toes because of my racism... I wish to apologise for being a racist,' he said. 'But I can tell you, it's not a conscious thing about me to be a racist.' Despite his apology, public confidence is waning fast.'This judge has clearly lost the plot,' said criminal law expert Advocate Thembeka Radebe. 'It's no longer about Senzo Meyiwa. It's about Judge Mokgoatlheng, and that's a complete derailment of justice. He must go.' If Mokgoatlheng does recuse himself — or is removed — the trial would need to start from scratch for a third time. That means a new judge, re-hearing all witness testimonies, and likely several more years before a verdict is reached. For the Meyiwa family, already exhausted by nearly 10 years of legal delays, this would be yet another devastating blow. The murder of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa in 2014 shook the nation. What was expected to be a clear-cut trial has instead turned into a saga of dysfunction, scandal, and spectacle. Many legal analysts now warn that unless urgent corrective steps are taken — starting with the judge stepping down — the public may permanently lose faith in the justice system.'The trial has become a circus,' said Radebe. 'And justice is nowhere in sight.'
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
No deaths at 2025 Comrades Marathon – association after fake news spreads
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has slammed reports alleging two runners had died at this year's event. According to Northglen News, in a statement, CMA general manager Alain Dalais said some digital media outlets and accounts had reported the deaths, further alleging the deaths were confirmed by Comrades officials. 'The CMA and its medical team can confirm that no deaths have been recorded at the 2025 event. As can be expected from an event of this nature and size, there were some cases of runners being transferred to hospital from the route, for various medical reasons. The CMA medical, emergency, safety and health protocols are excellent, and focused on the safety of all runners,' he said. Dalais added that the association distances itself from any fake news or rumours doing the rounds. 'The CMA suggests that our community rely on reputable sources for information, starting with our own channels,' he added. In 2022, a Hollywoodbets Athletics Club runner, Mzamo Mthembu, collapsed on the Comrades Marathon route near Pinetown and died after being taken to hospital. Also read: Comrades runner reported missing found near Durban harbour in serious condition
