Soap opera court case against Doris continues

"He is the devil’s child! He called me a skelm!" These were some of the allegations that the controversial Doris Mthembi’s (39) lawyer made during her ongoing court case.

She appeared in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (05/10) 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. Mthembi claimed that her ex-husband had burnt her car and had her mother-in-law killed before kidnapping and raping her (Mthembi).

During Wednesday’s proceedings, a smartly dressed Mthembi calmly listened while the investigating officer, W/O Fanie Mynhardt of the police’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, testified about the day she tried to lay the charge against Mugwena.

Mthembi’s lawyer accused Mynhardt of being selective in his investigation into the alleged rape. “I was puzzled and amazed by your investigation methods,” said the lawyer. According to the lawyer, Mynhardt wasn’t even interested in what Mthembi had to say about the case and relied solely on what Mugwena had to say.

Mynhardt denied this and testified that Mthembi wanted to go home to rest after she was released from the hospital and thereafter refused to answer any follow-up calls from him. It was at this stage, said Mynhardt, that Mthembi started to send out letters of complaint to various statutory bodies to complain about his alleged misconduct.

“Doris will testify that you called her a skelm, refused to help her and [she] therefore felt the need to send the letters,” the lawyer answered.

Time ran out, however, for any further cross-examination and Mthembi’s case had to be postponed. She will appear in court again on 14 October.

News - Date: 17 October 2011

Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

Email: [email protected]