Hawks' Johan Booysen confident in his defence team
KZN Hawks Head Johan Booysen says he's confident in his legal team's challenge of the racketeering charges against him.
He appeared before the Durban High Court this morning after the National Director of Public Prosecutions re-instated the charges against him and 27 former members of the Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit which has since been disbanded.
The unit, which he headed, was accused of operating a death squad.
The case was dismissed in 2014 after the same court found the decision by deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba to charge them had been unlawful and irrational.
Speaking after his appearance this morning, Booysen said there was nothing different about the matter.
"The charges that I appeared for today relate to racketeering - exactly the same charges. The list of witnesses are exactly the same and the indictment is exactly the same as the previous one," he said.
Also read: Case against Booysen, co-accused postponed to April
Booysen's bail has been extended until his next appearance on April 1.
Meanwhile, criminal lawyer William Booth says those accused of crimes must be prosecuted only when there is evidence against them and not for any other reason.
Booth has added he is flabbergasted that Jiba remains in her position.
"That makes a mockery of the whole situation that somebody where there's been massive criticism about how that person has conduced herself as a prosecutor is still at a very senior position at the National Prosecuting Authority," he said.
(Photo: Khatija Nxedlana)