LIMPOPO – The long-running trial of the three Radzuma brothers who have been charged with murder, attempted murder and multiple car hijackings, faced yet another setback last Monday.

The case, heard in the Limpopo High Court in Thohoyandou and sitting at the Waterval Magistrate’s Court, was expected to resume this week, however, proceedings stalled after the newly appointed Legal Aid attorney for one of the accused abruptly withdrew from the case.

Attorney Mpho Makhuvha, who had been assigned to represent Percy Radzuma, informed the court that he was unable to continue due to a conflict of interest. This announcement came shortly after he held a lengthy discussion with Percy moments before court proceedings began. When asked by the court to explain the nature of the conflict or the reasons for his sudden withdrawal, especially on the first day of trial, Makhuvha offered no further details and left the courtroom.

Judge Thogomelani Tshidada confirmed on record that Makhuvha, appointed by the Thohoyandou Legal Aid office, had officially indicated that he was conflicted and unable to represent Percy in the matter.

This development follows an earlier fallout in October, when Percy parted ways with his previous legal representative, Adv Ntsako Hlongwane.

In an unusual moment in court, Percy raised his hand and requested to be released for two weeks so that he could appoint his own legal representative. The judge dismissed the request, stating that the seriousness of the charges made such a release impossible.

The matter was postponed to December 1 to allow Percy an opportunity to secure new legal representation.

All 150 state witnesses have already testified, and the court is now at the stage where the accused must respond to the extensive evidence presented.

Brothers Simon, Percy and Ndivhuwo Radzuma are facing a combined 40 charges, including murder, attempted murder and car hijackings.

Simon and Percy are also accused of murdering two South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) officials from the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) in separate incidents in 2019.

The victims were Ronald Mani (50) and former acting national president of the union, Timpson Musetsho (50), both of whom had been vocal critics of the municipality’s decision to invest R300m in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

Their older brother, Ndivhuwo is additionally accused of murdering Zwothe Nemulodi, who was believed to have knowledge regarding the killings of the Samwu members.