The trial in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court was postponed to Thursday 7 November. 

The state prosecutor Advocate Johan de Nysschen brought forward the motion to Judge Pitso Molitsoane to postpone the matter citing the unavailability of legal counsel Mphafolane Kama due to illness. This is the case where Bakili, three police officers, a disbarred legal counsel, former SAPS IT technician, and a military man stand accused of various charges, including murder, extortion, and conspiracy to murder, amongst others.

Since the start of the trial recently, some interesting key witnesses have relayed their versions of events either directly or indirectly, linking the accused to the murder case with Bakili as the ring leader in the murder case of Siemens. The case has already seen many tongues wagging about Bakili’s name-dropping, which includes the names of Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and the ANC Secretary-General (SG) Ace Magushule.

The men on trial are Bakili, Mogoera Molebatsi, Kagiso Chabane, Mojalefa Jali Molusi, Moeketsi Lesia, Karabo Tau, Sizwe Mpati, and Clive Tshivenga. They are between the ages of 29 and 56. Meanwhile, one of those expected to testify for the state is the former FS health legal adviser, Justice Vinger, who sat on the committee that issues licences. He turned to become a state witness a few weeks after being arrested and appeared in the Local Magistrate’s Court. Charges against him connected to the murder of Siemens were withdrawn.

Former Health MEC, who has been embroiled in numerous scandals during his tenure as the MEC, denied ever receiving bribes from Bakili during a series meetings since 2016/17. A senior FS Health official, Pinkey Belot, also denied receiving bribes from Bakili and Siemens.

On Monday, a 41-year-old waiter at Annie’s Country Kitchen, Ohuliseng Seleme, and the court bore witness to a video that captured the last hour of businessman Siemens’ life before he was shot and killed in May 2018. In the video, Seleme helps the man depicted as Molusi, who does not stick around for much longer. This after he asked what type of drinks the restaurant had. He, however, never bought one and told the waiter he was fetching his wallet from the car before walking down through the basement parking where Siemens was gunned down.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Olebogeng Motse