The family of a missing Soshanguve teacher, Philile Gumede, said they have renewed hope that justice will eventually be done after the charges against a man linked to her disappearance were reinstated.
Perjury charges against a Gezina man, Edwin Steynberg (31) were reinstated this week after they were provisionally withdrawn in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court on 8 September.
Police spokesperson, Constable Zanele Mtsweni, said the case would return to court on 23 October.
The charge was reinstated after the investigating officer told the court he was convinced that Stenberg had a solid case to answer.
“Subsequent to the provisional withdrawal of the case, the investigating officer put in more measures in presenting his case to the courts once more. There was a misunderstanding between the court and the investigating officer and that led to the docket being provisionally withdrawn,” said Mtsweni.
Steynberg was arrested on 18 May and charged with perjury after investigators concluded he had lied under oath when giving his account of the disappearance of the Baleseng Primary School teacher.
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Gumede’s brother, Sibonelo Gumede, said this week the family was hopeful that something would come of the case.
“We were disappointed that the case was withdrawn without a valid reason, and without the accused even been called into the dock. After meeting with the accused and his lawyer privately, the prosecutor decided to withdraw the case. It is unfair,” he said.
Prosecutor, Salome Horne later told Rekord the charge of perjury against Steynberg had been dropped “due to the police failing to follow certain instructions before arresting and charging the accused”.
She said then he’s not entirely off the hook.
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”The case could be revisited depending on what the investigators are able to put together,” she said.
She said the decision by the court to withdraw the charge meant the prosecution had to be discontinued.
He had been out on an R1 000 bail.
Gumede has been missing since 22 April.
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