Cops on 'golf duty'
2003-11-19 10:26
George - There were no police members available to do court duty at the George magistrate's court on Wednesday because they were all on golf duty at Fancourt, where the Presidents Cup is being held this week.
As a result, a correctional services member had to be appointed to keep down the level of noise outside the court where the corruption trial of former Western Cape premier Peter Marais and David Malatsi is taking place.
The decibel level of people holding conversations, court orderlies shouting out the names of accused, and wailing infants proved too much for trial magistrate Andre le Grange.
After half an hour of sitting, during which a court official, the investigating officer in the corruption case and even lead prosecutor Bruce Morrison went out into the corridor to plead for quiet, Le Grange had had enough and called a ten-minute adjournment.
"This noise is really annoying me," he said.
"Perhaps the court orderly can arrange for somebody to stand outside and keep them away."
When the court reconvened, Morrison's junior, Louis van Niekerk, told Le Grange that it had been arranged that a correctional services official would stand outside to ensure silence.
Asked why a police official had not been detailed for the job, he indicated that they were all on golf duty.
Marais and Malatsi, former Western Cape environment and development MEC, are accused of accepting thousands of rands in bribes in return for provincial approval of the Roodefontein golf estate development at Plettenberg Bay.
- SAPA