A former attorney, alleged to have incessantly interfered with State witnesses pending a criminal trial, has been released on R1,500 bail with strict conditions by the Bellville Specialised Crimes Court earlier on Friday. 

Siyakudumisa Mlunguza, who had his warning conditions revoked while an inquiry into his behaviour was held by the court, has been ordered to move to an alternative address, which he provided to the court.

Mlunguza, who resides in Delft, will temporarily move to his sister’s home in Mfuleni while the criminal matter is being dealt with. 

On Friday, Magistrate Zwelidumile Sogwagwa issued strict conditions explicitly prohibiting Mlunguza from interfering with two State witnesses who he approached after court proceedings last year.

He was also explicitly warned against communication or contact with an attorney and an executor of the deceased’s estate in relation to his pending criminal case.

Mlunguza faces several counts of theft of Trust Funds which were payouts of the Road Accident Fund for his clients. The complainants include the RAF and the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund.

On Thursday, the court heard from Mlunguza that he was unaware that the contact between him and the witnesses would land him in hot water.

According to Mlunguza, the communications he had with the witnesses were advice he had received from colleagues, and he was unaware that it would be deemed as interfering, as he was allegedly trying to remedy the matter.

On Friday, handing down a bail judgment, Sogwagwa said that while the witnesses and the accused reside in the same area, and the meat stall of a newly-added State witness is one that he often frequented, the court was in doubt whether the accused intended to intimidate. 

According to Sogwagwa, Mlunguza’s warning conditions did not set out specific parameters of communication and locations prohibiting him.

Setting his strict bail conditions, Sogwagwa reminded Mlunguza that “you are not above the law” and reiterated against the contraventions set out in his bail conditions, which also prohibit him from arriving in court smelling of alcohol. 

Mlunguza was also prohibited from initiating any civil suits, “especially fraudulent” against any witnesses, pending the finalisation of the trial.

Sogwaga implored Mlunguza to respect court officials and processes so as not to jeopardise the functioning and administration of the criminal justice system. 

Mlunguza will make his next court appearance on February 16 and 17, 2026, for plea and trial proceedings at the Bellville Specialised Crimes Court.

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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