NPA to tackle jurisdiction in Adam Catzavelos case

There is still some uncertainty over whether the 40-year-old businessman could stand trial in South Africa for the racial slurs he made outside of the country.

He appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, with the case postponed to June 13 in order for him to obtain legal representation.

“The issue of jurisdiction is a matter that will be ventilated in court,” the NPA’s spokesperson in Gauteng Phindi Mjonondwane told the media outside court.

“We have to first detect it there are prospects of a successful prosecution, that has been done. The issue of jurisdiction is an issue that has to be ventilated in court and the prosecutor who decided on the matter was well aware that this issue will obviously come up and has prepared an argument that will be heard in court. So as for now we cannot comment further on this as it needs to be heard in court.”

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Catzavelos hit the headlines last year after a video surfaced in which used the k-word. 

The video was recorded while he was on holiday in Greece. 

Ahead of his first court appearance at the Randburg Magistrates Court, Catzavelos briefly spoke to the media.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which also attended the court appearance, doesn’t believe the issue of jurisdiction will prevent prosecution. 

The commission’s Gauteng manager Buang Jones says their attorneys are aware that the issue might arise.

“It’s something that I’ve discussed with the legal team here with me today. It’s something that might be raised by his defense team,but we are ready and we will make our own submissions on why we think this court is best placed to adjudicate over this matter.”

Although the commission is not part of the state’s case against Catzavelos, it will be taking him to the Equality Court.