A “very sick” senior magistrate Ronnie Rambau was spotted shopping and driving around Louis Trichardt, causing quite a few raised eyebrows this week.

Rambau, accused of accepting bribe money to influence court cases, was supposed to be in Polokwane on Monday where his disciplinary hearing was expected to start. He was, however, spotted at the Hajee Noor Centre in Louis Trichardt while he was, according to his advocate, in hospital with a severe stomach illness. 

Rambau was seen entering Checkers in the centre half an hour before his hearing was supposed to start. The Zoutpansberger was able to obtain a photograph of Rambau leaving the centre. He was driving his double cab Isuzu and was wearing a striped T-shirt, sweat pants and sandals.

The secretary of the Magistrate’s Commission, Mr Danie Schoeman, confirmed via email on Monday that Rambau was supposed to attend a misconduct hearing in Polokwane.

“Due to an illness, Regional Magistrate Rambau was not able to attend the trial,” Schoeman said.

According to information, Rambau submitted a medical certificate to the commission. On Friday, Rambau’s lawyer phoned the commission to inform them that Rambau had been admitted to hospital. Which hospital could not be confirmed.

All Schoeman could confirm by Tuesday was that the allegations of Rambau's being spotted in Louis Trichardt had been passed on to their Department of Ethics for further action. The outcome of this investigation, according to a source close to the hearing, will determine whether Rambau’s salary will be cancelled or not. Since his arrest on corruption charges in February last year, Rambau had been receiving his full salary, despite the fact that he was not allowed back in his office.

Rambau, together with his co-accused, prosecutor Estene Willemse and attorney T E Lubisi, are currently standing trial for allegedly pre-determining the sentence of vehicle theft cases by means of a plea agreement. The trio is also accused of receiving bribe money in murder and rape cases. All three are expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court  on 24 and 25 November to start their testimony.

In the meantime, Schoeman confirmed that Rambau’s misconduct hearing was postponed until 24 and 25 January of next year.