The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it was concerned with the leaking of the affidavit of one of the state witnesses in the Shepherd Mary Bushiri case.

NPA Gauteng regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, explained that the affidavit forms an integral part of the documents included in the case docket. These documents were disclosed to the defense in order to allow the accused to prepare for their trial.

“It is very concerning as this leaked affidavit has the potential to compromise the state’s case. It also endangers the life of the state witness because her full details, including a photo of her, were published in the media,” she said.

Mahanjana mentioned that the trial was scheduled to begin on October 14, 2024. However, there have been numerous interlocutory applications by some of the accused in an attempt to delay the trial.

“None of these interlocutory applications were successful. Despite all these applications the State has always maintained its readiness to start with the trial. We therefore urge the media to be responsible when exercising their mandate to produce news to keep the public informed to do so without jeopardising the rights of the witnesses who will be called to testify,” she said.

Meanwhile, the former accountant of Bushiri, Landiwe Ntlokwana, is currently embroiled in a legal controversy. Having been a trusted insider in Bushiri’s financial operations, she is now potentially facing charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice.

Ntlokwana, initially one of the accused in the 2021 case, has since indicated a shift to state witness status, raising serious questions about the timing of her testimony and the integrity of the legal process.

Non-governmental organisation Right to Justice has called for perjury and obstruction of justice charges against Ntlokwana.

The NGO’s concerns centre around the potential implications of Ntlokwana’s sudden decision to cooperate with the prosecution after four years of silence. Right to Justice argues that this move could undermine the case and believes Ntlokwana should be investigated for perjury, given the inconsistencies and omissions within her affidavit.

They assert that her actions may have been aimed at shielding *Bushiri* while implicating other co-accused.“It’s deeply concerning that Ntlokwana has remained silent all this time,” said Siphesihle Jele, chairperson of Right to Justice.

“Now, she wants to flip the script, claiming to be a state witness when she could have spoken out years ago. We believe she is guilty of perjury and defeating the ends of justice by withholding crucial information and only revealing it now when it suits her.”

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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