The defence for the two murder accused, Sekwetja Mahlambi and Sekola Matlaletsa, says the matter was postponed to 13 May in the Senekal Magistrate's Court on Tuesday while waiting for the analysis on the DNA to be completed. 

Advocate Machini Motloung, who is representing Matlaletsa, says they were informed through a testimony on Tuesday that the police are struggling to complete the analysis on the DNA and therefore asked for a postponement in the matter. He says they were further informed that the police earlier did not have the equipment to process the DNA samples but they have since procured the equipment to further process the samples. 

Motloung adds that they have since opposed the state’s plea for postponement and it was granted on condition that on the next appearance the state should be able to present the results, failing which will force them to give serious reasons to the court on their failure.

Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) regional spokesperson in the province, Phaladi Shuping, confirms that the defence opposed the application for a postponement and it was granted until the said date. 

Carte Blanche recently reported that over decades, South Africa has painstakingly built up the capacity, technology and expertise to be able to analyse DNA and yet, not a single DNA sample taken from crime scenes in the first two months of this year has been finalised by the Forensic Science Laboratory.

During the earlier bail application in Senekal, the court heard that the DNA samples taken from Horner's bakkie could not be linked to the accused because the results were inconclusive and could not be analysed. The court also heard that it could take up to six months to obtain results from blood samples taken from Mahlambi's pair of trousers.

Previously Advocate Motloung accused the state of violating the rights of the two accused. He told OFM News that the state is denying them a fair and speedy trial in terms of section 35(3) (b) of the Constitution.

OFM News