Legalbrief - dated Friday, 20/9/2011
Criminal: Alleged robber on census course fails to appear
Melumzi Hina (32), accused of aggravated robbery, did not attend his court hearing because he was training to become one of the census officials, says a report in The Herald. Port Elizabeth Regional Court Magistrate Kenny Cooney was shocked when Hini’s attorney produced a document in court saying he was attending a course that would enable him to be an enumerator in the census. Cooney expressed his dismay at the fact that a person charged with such a serious offence could be employed by the state to visit homes in order to obtain citizens’ personal information. He also expressed his concern at the sifting process involved in the appointment of census officials and remarked: ‘I will personally be reluctant to allow officials access to my residence.’ The report notes the matter was postponed until 21 February.
