No photos in court, says Amandawe murder-accused
The media-related matter will be before the court on September 14.
Murder-accused Sibonelo Senzo Gumede (29) from Amandawe reappeared in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning last week, where he was expected to plead, but the matter took a different turn.
As he entered the witness box, he raised his hand before the magistrate. After consulting with his lawyer, the court heard that he no longer wants the media to photograph him.
The court session had to be adjourned, and a meeting was held with the magistrate, Gumede’s lawyer, the prosecutor, and journalists.
The magistrate told Gumede’s lawyer that he (the accused) must have clear reasons as to why he has now changed his mind about the media taking photos and footage.
To hear his reasons and for the media houses to respond, the court will reconvene on September 14.
However, the magistrate said that photographs of Gumede taken at previous appearances can be published.
When the case resumed, the court heard that Gumede will be pleading guilty to the murder of Nokuphila Mbhele (28) on September 25.
Gumede shot dead Mbhele from KwaMadlala, who is also the mother of his child, then turned the gun on himself, but survived, in March 2025.
The victim’s mother, Sthembile Mbhele, said it upsets her to hear that Gumede still has rights and he can change his mind whenever he wants.
“He had no right to kill my daughter, but he did anyway. The case was postponed again because his feelings have to be nursed. This seems like delay tactics because we are here today because of his actions.”
Mbhele feels that Gumede is receiving special treatment because he has also changed his lawyers three times, which has also caused a delay.
She said the whole situation is draining because each time she has to go to court, she has to leave her grandchild, whom she now cares for, with a neighbour.
“He seems to be forgetting that when he killed my daughter, their child was only 14 months old and that child is now my responsibility. He is not even remorseful; he was greeting his family in court. For him to say he is not happy with the media is insane because who is he to say what he likes and what he doesn’t like?”
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