TRIAL date for former Sizok’thola presenter Xolani Khumalo is set.
Khumalo appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday, 11 December, where it was announced his trial will be held over three days on 15, 16 and 17 April 2025.
His lawyer, Advocate Zola Majavu said they’re happy the court date has been finalised.
“When the trial starts, the prosecutor is going to read the charges to Khumalo. I can tell you now that he’s not going to plead guilty to the four charges of murder, armed robbery, theft and malicious property damage.
“The onus rests with the state to prove its case aagainst my client beyond reasonable doubt by calling their witnesses,” said Majavu.
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He said he’ll get a chance to cross-examine the witnesses when the state is done. Majavu said if Khumalo is not found guilty, he’ll ask the court to discharge him without getting into the box.
“If the court doesn’t grant that application, then I’ll put him in the box and I’ll call only one witness, who is him if we even get to that.
“I’m quite confident we won’t get there. But if it happens, we need to respect the legal process,” said Majavu.
Khumalo and his Sizok’thola crew allegedly assaulted suspected drug dealer, Robert “Ricks” Varrie (49) in July 2023 when they interrogated him at his home at Phadima section in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni.
The dad of eight kids was reportedly assaulted in his rented room to force him into revealing hidden drugs. He was taken to Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Robert’s sister, who asked not to be named, said: “We are happy that the trial date has been set. This will help us know what happened on that fateful day when our brother was brutally killed. We want justice for our brother. We can’t cope, his death has affected the family.”