Mthembi too "ill" to appear in court

The perjury case against Doris Mthembi, well known for her constant court appearances, was delayed last week because of her ill health.

She was due to appear in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on Monday to stand trial in one of the numerous cases that keep on piling up against her.

The case relates to an incident in September last year when she tried to open a case of rape against her estranged husband, Goddard Tendani Mugwena. During the trial, which commenced in October 2011, Mthembi claimed that the police had refused to help her.

Mthembi’s lawyer accused the investigating officer in the case, W/O Fanie Mynhardt of the police’s Family Violence Unit, of not listening to Mthembi’s account of what had happened. He accused Mynhardt of only listening to Mugwena’s side. It was during this trial that the case was postponed to Monday this week.

On Monday, Mthembi’s case had to be postponed yet again when she failed to appear in court. Because she did not make arrangements with the State, a bench warrant for her arrest was issued by the court.

Shortly after the court adjourned, Mthembi’s live-in lover, well-known TV star Joe Ragwala, came to court with a medical certificate. According to him, Mthembi is gravely ill and in hospital, “awaiting an operation.”

The medical certificate that he presented to the court said that Mthembi had been admitted to the Tshilidzini Hospital on 13 February due to a “medical illness.” She was also booked off sick until 15 February. The court, however, rejected the certificate, due to its vague description of Mthembi’s alleged illness.

On Tuesday, Mthembi herself brought another medical certificate to court, stating that she was in hospital from 12 until 13 February because “she was vomiting.” It also came to light during this visit to the court that her attorney has since withdrawn from the case. Before postponing the matter and cancelling the warrant against Mthembi, the court once again warned Mthembi  to get her affairs in order.

Mthembi will appear in court again on 28 February, before which time she will have to appoint a new lawyer.