Solo�s Retirement Haunts Justice System

Othusitse Khuwa | Tuesday May 2, 2017 16:19

Recently, two men charged with murder had to go home with little progress made in their case because their case was handled by Solo who is now retired.

The state alleges that Kgopolo Shime, 37 and Meshack Gorewang, 32 on or about January 23, 2008 at Sesame location in Selebi Phikwe acting jointly and in agreement murdered Herbert Pfungwa, a Zimbabwean.

The accused respectively are represented by attorneys,   Isaac Seleka and Rodger Calendar. The murder case could not proceed because there was no appearance from the State.

The matter was compounded by the fact that before Solo was retired in January, he had partly heard the case and the accused’s attorneys had applied for no case to answer. The matter now has to start afresh following Solo’s retirement by President Ian Khama.

The decision to retire Solo was based on the report of the tribunal which Khama appointed in November last year to carry out an investigation into whether Solo’s medical condition would not possibly render him incapable of continuing to fully and effectively discharge his functions.

The tribunal, which was led by Justice Monametsi Gaongalelwe, concluded that Solo ought to be removed from office.

This matter will obviously inundate other Judges who will be allocated matters in various stages that were before Solo.

Because of the non-appearance of the State, Justice Lot Moroka adjourned the matter to May 5 with the hope that by then, State attorneys will be available for setting of trial dates.