Latest news with #CharlesMnisi
News24
a day ago
- Politics
- News24
Senzo Meyiwa murder trial presiding judge issues an apology for racial remarks - ‘
Following an outburst at a lawyer's message in court that some perceived as racist, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has apologised publicly today on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Pretoria High Court. When defense attorney, Adv. Charles Mnisi requested a Monday court leave to accommodate his Comrades Marathon travel schedule last week, Mokgoatlheng became enraged. 'I don't think a white advocate can have the gall to ask me that,' he said. Read more | Presiding judge at Senzo Meyiwa's murder trial causes uproar after racial remarks spark controversy Mnisi ran and completed the marathon on Sunday and did not appear in court but was replaced by Adv. Sipho Ramosepele. However, Judge Mokgoatlheng apologised in his absence saying, 'I have never behaved the way I did,' referring to his career of 26 years as a judge and 30 years as an attorney. He further claimed that the judge president together with the deputy judge president had chastised him. 'I agree, my conduct was questionable and incorrect.' Additionally, he revealed that his wife also reprimanded him and pushed for a public apology, claiming that his conduct was worse than that of lawyers charged with embezzling funds from Road Accident Funds (RAF) clients. 'She told me I should apologise to the whole of South Africa,' he stated. Read more | SAMA urges caution as flu cases surge and new COVID-19 variant emerges He also mentioned that his late son, who was an advocate who passed away from cancer wouldn't have been very happy with his behaviour. 'I apologise to the accused, the lawyers, the public, the judges, magistrates, students, religious leaders - to everyone in South Africa who felt hurt or insulted by my actions,' he added. Furthermore, in response to the accusations that he was racist, Mokgoatlheng stated that he believed this to be false and hurtful. He recounted his upbringing in a politically engaged family that frequently hosted dignitaries like Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela, and a number of well-known South Africans whom he said know him personally. 'If people say I'm a racist, maybe I'm not aware of that, but I apologise.' In closing, the judge also invited the accused who felt like they could not receive a fair trial from him to express his opinion. 'If you think I am not fit to be your judge, please tell me and I'll recuse myself.'
The Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Reprimanded Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng apologises for outburst
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has issued a public apology after a courtroom outburst at a lawyer which some deemed racist. Mokgoatlheng was furious last week when defence advocate Charles Mnisi asked to be excused from court on Monday to accommodate his travel plans for the Comrades Marathon. 'I don't think a white advocate can have the gall to ask me that,' the judge said. Mnisi, who ran and completed the ultra-marathon on Sunday, was absent from court on Monday. Attorney Sipho Ramosepele stood in for him. Addressing the court on Monday, the judge said he regretted his remarks. 'I have never behaved the way I did,' he said, referring to 26 years as a judge and 30 years as an attorney. He said the judge president and deputy judge president had spoken to him and the JP had rightfully reprimanded him. 'I agree, my conduct was questionable and incorrect.' Mokgoatlheng also shared that his wife urged him to apologise publicly, saying his actions were worse than those of lawyers accused of stealing money from Road Accident Fund clients. 'She told me I should apologise to the whole of South Africa,' he said. He mentioned his late son, an advocate who died of cancer, saying his son would have been disappointed in his conduct. 'I apologise to the accused, the lawyers, the public, the judges, magistrates, students, religious leaders — to everyone in South Africa who felt hurt or insulted by my actions,' he said. Responding to claims that he was a racist, Mokgoatlheng said he found this to be hurtful and untrue. He spoke about his upbringing in a politically active household, where leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu would often visit. He also listed several respected South Africans who know him personally. 'If people say I'm a racist, maybe I'm not aware of that, but I apologise.' The judge invited the accused in court who believed they could not get a fair trial from him to say so. 'If you think I am not fit to be your judge, please tell me and I'll recuse myself.' TimesLIVE
News24
a day ago
- Politics
- News24
Senzo Meyiwa trial judge apologises for racial remarks
On Monday, Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng apologised for making controversial racial remarks which sparked public and political criticism during the Senzo Meyiwa trial. He admitted his conduct was unbecoming of his stature and expressed regret, reflecting on his remarks and addressing accusations of racism. Mokgoatlheng offered to recuse himself if anyone doubted his fairness, honour, or integrity as a judge. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has publicly apologised for his controversial racial remarks he made during Thursday's session of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial. His comments came on the back of defence advocate Charles Mnisi's request to be excused from court on Monday because he was participating in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday and sparked widespread criticism. The judge said at the time: 'When the JP [Judge President] asks why you were not sitting on Monday, [we'll have to say] 'no, we were waiting for advocate Mnisi to drive back to Joburg because he was running a marathon'. This is South Africa run by blacks; I can tell you now ... a white advocate would never have the gall to ask me that. Never.' The remarks drew sharp criticism from various quarters, including political parties and legal commentators. In his apology, Mokgoatlheng said: 'I have been on the bench for 26 years as an acting judge and a judge. I have never ever behaved the way I did on Friday. Before becoming a judge, I spent 30 years as an attorney. I spoke to the Judge President and he, together with the Deputy Judge President, rightfully excoriated me for my conduct, saying it was not befitting of a judge of my experience and stature. I agree wholeheartedly. My conduct was questionable and incorrect.' On Thursday the GOOD Party strongly condemned Mokgoatlheng's comments, saying: 'It undermines the integrity of the judiciary and risks inflaming already fragile race relations in South Africa. Decorum in court is not just about the behaviour of lawyers and attendees; it begins with the conduct of the bench. Judges must embody the fairness and dignity they expect from others. These comments fall far short of that standard.' Despite the backlash, Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo had offered a different perspective, telling News24: 'I can see no misconduct by the judge in the circumstances of the case, as viewed by many.' In his apology, however, Mokgoatlheng added a personal dimension, revealing the impact these events had on his family and shedding light on his own personal reflections. 'My wife, who I thought was afraid of me, told me that I should apologise to the whole of South Africa because I am worse than the attorneys who are currently stealing money from clients in the Road Accident Fund (RAF) matter ... I wish to tender my sincerest apologies. It's contra my nature to act like that. I recently lost my son, who was an advocate — he died due to lymphatic cancer. I believe he would have been disappointed in my behaviour. That's why I wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologise to my colleagues here and to the gentlemen in front of me.' Mokgoatlheng also sought to address suggestions of racism on his part, saying: 'I have also been accused of being a racist. I want to share one or two things about me as a person, beyond being a lawyer. I grew up in the house of Moses Skotane. Nelson Mandela used to visit our home, as did Walter Sisulu — even Robert Sobukwe before he broke away from the ANC. My father was an active member of the ANC and the Communist Party. He would be mortified to hear me being labelled a racist. My great-grandmother was German. I recall she used to cut her hair short so that people wouldn't realise she had white blood. So I know everything about racism.' He concluded by offering to step down if anyone questioned his integrity. 'The gentlemen in front of me - if you believe that I, as a judge, am so useless, dumb, and incapable of giving you a fair trial, please tell me. I will recuse myself. I do not want to impose myself on individuals who doubt my integrity, honour, or dignity. If you truly believe I am racist, unfit for this role, and dismissive of the Constitution, just say it, and I will step away.' The case continues.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
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. 🌚 — Ruud Krol🏴☠️ (@Mvuh04Chili) June 8, 2025 Advocate Charles Mnisi after finishing the Comrades Marathon. — 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.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Comrades demands grit but so does the courtroom
Advocate Charles Mnisi's request to miss court after the Comrades Marathon sparked debate on balancing personal ambition with professional and ethical obligations. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng put his foot squarely in it yesterday in the High Court in Pretoria when he went on a tirade about a request from a defence lawyer in the Senzo Meyiwa trial to be excused from court on Monday because he is running the Comrades Marathon on Sunday. After angrily speaking about 'justice delayed is justice denied' in a case in which family members have been waiting for closure for a decade, Mokgoatlheng fumed: 'This is what happens in a South Africa run by blacks. A white advocate will never have the gall to ask me that.' While many took offence at what one of them, Good party's Brett Heron, called 'racially divisive language', which is 'entirely unacceptable', I was more intrigued about the fact that a senior advocate, Charles Mnisi, would have thought that taking part in the annual KZN athletic spectacle was more important that defending an accused in a murder case. I wondered, initially, whether advocates have to swear an oath, similar to the Hippocratic one taken by doctors, to act at all times in the best interests of their clients and the legal system. Then I thought about it a little more. Mnisi was, after all, asking to be excused from attending court on Monday, which would be a recovery day and not race day itself. ALSO READ: 'This is what happens in a SA run by blacks': Senzo Meyiwa trial judge fires off explosive rant He said he was planning to drive back to Johannesburg after the race and, obviously, would not make it in time. Now, as an advocate who presumably gets paid a decent whack for his time, I ask; could he not have afforded to fly back to Gauteng, either late on Sunday night or early on Monday morning? As someone who has five Comrades marathons under my belt (although many years ago now), I do remember the post-race agony. That post-race agony for me, I remember, was made worse by hobbling down the aircraft steps at the then Jan Smuts airport on one occasion. That hobbling – everybody knew what it was caused by – was worn as a badge of honour, though. What an entrance to court it would have made had Mnisi got back in time and hobbled in on Monday morning and asked for the court's indulgence for his gait, by explaining to the judge that he had just travelled 90km on foot from Pietermaritzburg to Durban but that, while his legs may be hurting, his mind was ready for the fight… ALSO READ: Meyiwa trial becomes a courtroom spectacle without justice Completing the Comrades is, for all entrants, a triumph of mind over matter because human bodies are simply not made for that sort of effort. Will power and not muscle power gets you over the finish line. I do realise that many runners put their lives on hold for the first half of any given year in getting ready for the race. I know I did. Job, family, friends all took a back seat to joining the '100 Club' (100 miles, or 160km, in one training week). But I never missed a commitment – or ducked work – because I was a runner. If you can commit yourself to finishing the Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Pain, surely you can suffer a little more discomfort on a recovery day to honour a professional appointment? The Comrades Marathon – the gruelling training, the arduous competition itself and the agony of recovery – is not for sissies. It's a quest you can't walk, or hobble, away from. Pretty much the same as life in general. NOW READ: 'No proper investigation was done': Defence frustrated over missing evidence in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial
