Central SA
Magistrate appears in Bfn court─── LUCKY NKUYANE 14:55 Mon, 31 May 2021
A Bloemfontein Magistrate, who was released on R10 000 bail previously, appeared at the local Magistrate's Court in the Free State on charges of defeating the ends of justice on Monday.
Magistrate Leavit Mkansi is accused of being in contact with the alleged mastermind in the Louis Siemens murder case, Stanley Bakili, about 68 times during Bakili’s fraud and corruption case earlier in 2017.
Mkansi allegedly contacted Bakili whilst he was the presiding magistrate in the fraud and corruption matter at the regional court. He allegedly refused to recuse himself from the matter at first but eventually did so when more questions and pressure mounted against him. The matter was on Monday postponed to 2 July 2021 for a regional court sitting.
Mkansi was expected to appear alongside Bakili but Bakili, who is standing trial for the murder of Siemens in the High Court, failed to appear under unclear circumstances.
Bakili is accused of organising a hit on Siemens who was gunned down in the basement parking lot of Preller Square in broad daylight in May 2018.
Mkansi and Bakili will in July appear for the first time at the regional court. The Magistrate is being represented by Advocate Adriaan Janse van Rensburg. Mkansi on Monday appeared to be calm and in good spirit.
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