The infamous Doris Vukhatimuni Mthembi (39) claims that because “she is [a] black, unemployed woman living in Limpopo” that she is denied her legal rights to a fair court trial.

Mthembi appeared in the Louis Trichardt Regional Court on Tuesday on one charge of statutory perjury and one charge of defeating or obstructing the administration of justice. This follows after she allegedly misinformed the Makhado police that she had been kidnapped at gunpoint and raped by her ex-husband, Goddard Tendani Mugwena – the very same husband which she allegedly wanted dead.

Mthembi has been in and out of court rooms ever since she made headlines in 2009 when she eloped with Joe Ragwala (37), a well-known actor in SABC 2´s drama Muvhango.

After splitting up with her former husband, Mugwena, she was arrested in August of the same year, together with Vincent Phakula (27) and Moses Ntlenana (24), two hit men whom she had allegedly hired to kill Mugwena. Ragwala was also arrested in the same year for sending a threatening SMS to Mugwena.

After all four were released on bail of R5 000 each in October 2009, Ragwala claimed his innocence outside the Thohoyandou court house, saying “the ruling is a sign of the good things to come.” However, more bad things followed.

In February this year, Mthembi and Ragwala were arrested on charges of theft and fraud. This follows after a police raid on Mthembi and Ragwala’s home, during which several goods belonging to Mugwena were recovered. The couple was released on R1 500 and R2 000 bail respectively.

In March this year, Mthembi was arrested for making false statements to the police. Mthembi allegedly claimed that Mugwena had burnt her car and had had her mother-in-law killed before kidnapping and raping her (Mthembi). According to information available, Mthembi has lodged several complaints against the police officials involved in her case, claiming that they refused to help her. The Zoutpansberger / Limpopo Mirror managed to read some of Mthembi´s letters of complaint. She even wrote to the North Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv S Mzinyathi, suggesting that several national prosecuting officials were busy with corrupt activities.

During Tuesday´s court appearance, the regional state prosecutor placed it on record that Adv Mzinyathi had confirmed that he received letters of complaints "almost on a daily basis" from Mthembi and that he would no longer listen to any further complaints. He also ordered that the case be brought to trial as quickly as possible, so as not to hold up the course of justice any longer.

Mthembi´s case was postponed until May 17, so that she can apply for a Legal Aid attorney