The murder trial of Eswatini football administrator and businessman Mashumi Shongwe has been postponed to February 2, 2027, after the Crown disclosed that crucial case dockets were lost during investigations. As a result, essential statements remain missing. The disclosure was made at the High Court in Eswatini, where prosecuting counsel Ngcebo Lukhele informed Judge Sabelo Masuku of the development.
According to Lukhele, the prosecution had to reconstruct the dockets after they went missing during investigations. The missing documents include statements allegedly made by Shongwe before Principal Magistrate Florence Msibi, which the Crown has been unable to retrieve despite contacting the Nhlangano Magistrate’s Court. The defence team, led by Ben J Simelane, argued that they cannot proceed without knowing the full extent of the evidence the Crown intends to present against Shongwe.
The defence team has repeatedly requested the outstanding documents but has not received the complete docket. Simelane stated that they are not in receipt of the scenes of crime report, investigating officer’s report, and statements made by Shongwe before Principal Magistrate Florence Msibi. He emphasized that the investigating officer’s report is particularly important as it would provide an overview of the exhibits involved in the matter.
Judge Masuku questioned Simelane about what had been covered during the pre-trial proceedings, asking whether the session should have dealt with issues such as Shongwe’s plea and the number of witnesses the Crown intended to call. Simelane responded that the pre-trial discussions had addressed whether Shongwe would plead guilty or not guilty and the number of witnesses, excluding the pathologist.
Lukhele informed the court that the Crown had managed to secure the scenes of crime report and undertook to furnish the defence with a copy by close of business. He also undertook to provide Simelane with the investigating officer’s report. However, the judge noted that although the matter had been progressing over the previous few days, the outstanding documents remained a stumbling block to the commencement of the trial.
The judge consequently postponed the matter to February 2, 2027, during the next session of the High Court. The postponement means Shongwe will have to wait longer for his murder trial, with the defence still demanding access to documents that should enable it to prepare its case. The trial’s delay has left both parties in a state of limbo.
The case has garnered significant attention in Eswatini, with many awaiting the trial’s outcome. As the trial date approaches, both the prosecution and defence teams will need to be thoroughly prepared. The Crown’s ability to retrieve the missing statements and dockets will be crucial in determining the trial’s progression.
Key points
- The murder trial of Mashumi Shongwe has been postponed to February 2, 2027.
- The trial was delayed due to lost case dockets and missing statements.
- The defence team requires access to the outstanding documents to prepare its case.
