There are 32 civil matters that the court will finalise before the week ends.
A first sitting of the Mpumalanga High Court this week found guilty a Kabokweni man arrested in April 2018 for killing his wife and mom-in-law.
Judge Francis Legodi who presided over the first criminal case in the newly built Mbombela court found Mhlolo Ngomane guilty of the murder.
The 44-year-old Ngomane killed the 39-year-old woman on 29 March 2018 during an argument at her home in Kabokweni. He then turned the gun on the wife’s 54-year-old mom before fleeing and going into hiding.
Since his arrest on 4 April 2018 after a tip-off by community members Ngomane’s case went to the Kabokweni Magistrates Court. This week Monday, during the Mpumalanga High Court’s official start, the case concluded with Ngomane being found guilty.
ALSO RELATED: Mpumalanga High Court opens
The court has 12 courtrooms, six of which will be used for civil cases and six for criminal ones, and its construction began in late 2013.
“This building will have men and women who are driven by mutual respect,” Judge Legodi, the President of the Mpumalanga High Court, said during the opening.
“And [will also have men and women] who aim to serve with pride, compassion and dignity,” he said, adding the official opening will actually occur this year when President Cyril Ramaphosa comes to the Mpumalanga building.
Premier Refilwe Mtshweni will declare the building in Mbombela a national key point.
The event was attended by justice minister Michael Masutha, director-general Vusi Madonsela and other men and women of the law.
“It is my dream that the president can announce this when he comes for the official opening later this year,” said Legodi.
“It is with confidence that we can proudly say the beauty of the inside and outside of the building will be a true reflection of the inner and outside beauty of the people who work in it. They will know no status, prejudice or titles and will see one another as equals,” he said.
(edited by ZK)
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