A Durban businesswoman facing 118 fraud charges has won her battle in the Durban Magistrate's Court to get the State to provide her with more information.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Blessing Msane granted Shauwn Mpisane's application demanding that the prosecution provide her legal team with more details about the alleged offences.
Mpisane is accused of having understated the 2010 VAT returns of her company.
She is also accused of submitting revised financial statements to the SA Revenue Service (Sars) for her company, with inflated purchases that ultimately resulted in the company's profit being understated in 2008.
According to the State, Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance, and Transport CC's bookkeeper Kishal Reddy allegedly forged four invoices in the amount of R5 053 035 on Mpisane's orders.
She also faces one charge of violating the Close Corporations Act.
Msane said since it was alleged that Mpisane had colluded with others to commit the offences it was “important for her (defence) to know for whom she may take the rap”.
He said that granting the defence the information would later prevent Mpisane from claiming that her trial was unfair.
Earlier on Wednesday, proceedings were delayed after Mpisane's supporters attempted to stop a news photographer from taking pictures of her.
Mercury newspaper photographer Terry Haywood was surrounded and pushed by supporters, demanding that he stop taking pictures of Mpisane.
Arguments between the media and Mpisane's supporters only stopped when Msane entered court.
After Msane's ruling, one of Mpisane's supporters in a blue BMW pulled up alongside reporters outside the court.
Through a loudhailer he told the reporters that “you must never lie in future”.
He drove off and returned moment later, shouting through the loudhailer: “You should be proud of yourselves. Your forefathers would be proud of you.”
The prosecution has until Friday to provide Mpisane's legal team with the information requested. – Sapa