The magistrate overreacted

They have to weigh the interests of society, against the interests of the victim and the interests of the accused person before coming to any conclusion. All this should be conducted in a transparent manner in the presence of all stakeholders; particularly the public who should have confidence in the system.

On Tuesday, Broadhurst magistrate Ginnai Jensen kicked everybody out of her court room when Mmutlenyane Ramogaladi appeared for mention for a rape charge. The accused rose to fame when an illegally recorded video of him telling the magistrate to go to hell or “o tla imentioner” went viral on social media. In the video, he vowed not to come for the next mention since he would be going to see a doctor.