Durban - The deputy chairperson of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal and former MEC for Economic Development, Mike Mabuyakhulu appeared in the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday seeking to separate his charges related to fraud, corruption and money laundering from his seven co-accused.
Mabuyakhulu's legal representative Advocate Jimmy Howse said that Mabuyakhulu would be making representation to the head of the commercial crime courts to have his charges separated from his co-accused.
The charges Mabuyakhulu faces with seven Durban businessmen and women, as well as eight companies, related to R28 million that the KZN government forked out for the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2012 that never took place.
Addressing the court Howse said out of the 77 counts in the matter his client had only six levelled against him.
"That is less than one-tenth of the charges only amounting to 300 000 of the R28 million...Accused 16's (Mabuyakhulu) situation is different, he has been drawn into this massive matter, he is a politician and government official..." Howse said.
Howse and legal representatives for all the accused have made requests to the state for further particulars to be furnished to them.
He said he would be making representations to the head of commercial crimes court in the country for a possible separation of the trial on the matter.
"Reasons for this are that from the looks of it and the document volumes it seems that the matter will drag on forever. It's difficult for my client to be part of a massive trial when he allegedly played a small role".
The deputy chairperson of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal and former MEC for Economic Development, Mike Mabuyakhulu appeared in the Durban Commercial Crime Court. Video: Anelisa Kubheka.
The State, answering to the requests for further particulars from the defence said it would have a response on October 16 to which Howse objected questioning why this response could not be ready in two weeks.
"We filed the request on the 8th of August already...And we met with the prosecuting team on the 14th and during that meeting we had hoped to expedite the response. "The team has four very senior advocates and getting a response on the 16th is unacceptable," said Howse.
The matter was adjourned for October 16 for responses to the requests.