On Tuesday, the High Court, through Justice Mabats’oeneng Hlaele, dismissed a recusal application filed by Thabiso Lekitla, Member of Parliament for Mekaling, who is standing trial for murder.
Lekitla had requested that the presiding judge recuse herself from the case, alleging potential bias stemming from proceedings that took place on September 2-3, 2024. However, in her judgment, Justice Hlaele ruled that there was no valid basis for his apprehension of bias. She emphasized that a reasonably informed person would not perceive any bias from those proceedings.
Justice Hlaele further ordered that the case will continue, with new dates to be set. She confirmed that she will preside over the forthcoming proceedings, ensuring the trial moves forward without delay.
This decision clears the way for the trial to proceed, marking a significant development in the high-profile case.
