Judge Soma Naidoo, for the second time, rescheduled the judgment into the trial of the former premier Ace Magashule’s driver, Ricardo Mettler, to 10 December. Naidoo said she needed more time to deliberate on the evidence presented in court by the state advocate Antoinette Ferreira and defence advocate Jacques Potgieter.

Ferreira earlier alleged that Mettler stole the painting worth R8 million and removed the government's serial code which was placed on the bottom left, to cover up his tracks. However, during his testimony on 27 October, ANC SG Magashule testified in court that he gave his staff, including Mettler, his personal belongings. He said he still does not know if Pierneef is an individual or a painting.  

Both the National Prosecuting Authority and Mettler's defence have welcomed the decision by Naidoo to take more time before handing down her judgment. 

Free State NPA spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, says this shows that Naidoo is considering all the evidence at her exposal. Advocate Potgieter, representing Mettler, says they also welcome this decision because it shows that Naidoo is considering all evidence for a fair and balanced verdict.

Mettler was charged and ordered to appear in court after the much-valued painting was seized by the Hawks. In 2019, the Hawks in the Free State instituted charges - contravening Section 32(13) of the National Heritage Resources Act - against him. 

Hawks spokesperson, Lynda Steyn, previously told OFM News that charges against Mettler emerged after he allegedly made false statements in an affidavit.

OFM News