SIPHO SHONGWE FRUSTRATED

MBABANE – Frustrated!

Nine months has elapsed without the extradition appeal of Sipho Shongwe being enrolled at the High Court. Shongwe filed his notice of appeal on August 7, 2020. He is appealing against the order that he be extradited to the Republic of South Africa where he was said to have been fraudulently released from Barberton Maximum Prison. The appealed judgment was issued by Manzini Principal Magistrate David Khumalo on June 20, 2020.
Through his attorney Noncedo Ndlangamandla, Shongwe has since written to the registrar of the High Court, expressing his burning desire to have the appeal enrolled. “Kindly be advised that our client is desirous of having his appeal heard and is putting immense pressure on us to have the matter enrolled. May you kindly assist us with enrolling the matter so that same may be heard and finalised,” reads part of the correspondence that was written to the registrar of the High Court by Shongwe’s lawyer.

The correspondence has still not been attended to by the registrar as Shongwe’s appeal does not appear on the roll of cases to be heard this session. The appeal is being opposed by the Crown, which contended that it was absurd to suggest that a person who served seven years of two life imprisonments can be released even without parole. The judgment was to the effect that Shongwe, who is currently on trial for the murder of fellow businessman and football administrator Victor Gamedze, is extraditable to South Africa to face criminal charges relating to escaping from lawful prison, forgery and uttering as well as to serve his allegedly incomplete sentence.

The Crown informed the court that the main questions to be asked were how Shongwe was released from Barberton Maximum Prison and if there were any documents through which he was released. The answer to these questions, according to the Crown, was that Shongwe was allegedly released fraudulently. “Yes, there were documents that released the appellant (Shongwe) but they were fraudulent,” submitted the Crown. The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court.

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