NPA Ready To Proceed With Racketeering Trial In Bushiri-Linked Case After Court Dismisses Bid To Halt Prosecution

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it is prepared to move forward with a racketeering trial involving Willah Joseph Mudolo and several co-accused, after the Pretoria High Court rejected attempts to halt the case.

The matter is connected to a broader case in which Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary Bushiri, were originally implicated before leaving South Africa. Proceedings were later moved to the Pretoria High Court, where the case has experienced a series of delays.

The trial against Mudolo and five others is scheduled to begin on Monday. The accused face a range of charges, including racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

Pretoria High Court Dismisses Application To Stop Prosecution

In a media statement, NPA national spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the authority welcomed the court’s ruling, which found no merit in the application brought by Mudolo and his co-accused to prevent the state from prosecuting them.

Kganyago said the legal challenge was part of a wider effort to disrupt proceedings.

“This application formed part of a broader and ultimately unsuccessful effort to interfere with the prosecution, including attempts to remove the prosecutors from the case.”

The court dismissed the application, along with related motions, and ordered costs against the applicants.

NPA Blames Delays On Legal Challenges By Accused

According to the NPA, the state has consistently been ready to proceed with the trial, with delays largely attributed to legal actions initiated by the accused.

Kganyago said these included attempts to review the decision to charge them under racketeering laws, as well as challenges to their arrest and efforts to remove prosecutors from the matter.

In its judgment, the court rejected allegations made against the prosecution team and criticised the conduct of the accused.

“The court further found that the criminal charges Mudolo laid against the prosecutors, were a desperate attempt to stop the prosecutor from prosecuting the matter against him,” said Kganyago.

The court also clarified that dissatisfaction with prosecutors does not justify their removal.

“A prosecutor cannot simply be replaced willy nilly because an accused person is not satisfied with him or her prosecuting a matter.”

Concerns Raised Over Trial Delays And Legal Tactics

Kganyago raised concerns about the impact of repeated legal challenges on the progress of the case, noting that such tactics have prolonged proceedings.

“These tactics have not only delayed the commencement of the trial but have also undermined the rights of co-accused and the broader community to a fair and expeditious resolution of the matter.”

He added that the NPA views this conduct as an abuse of legal processes but remains committed to its mandate.

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“Such conduct reflects a deliberate abuse of legal processes and will not deter the NPA from fulfilling its constitutional mandate.”

Kganyago reiterated the authority’s stance on pursuing the case.

“The NPA remains resolute in its commitment to prosecute this matter, and all others, without fear, favour, or prejudice.”