The courts are known as respectable institutions, where even the most dangerous of criminals or well-known celebrities are forced to be obedient. However, lately, some of the most followed cases have had moments where the accused, witnesses, as well as victims' families seemingly "forgot" where they were and behaved otherwise.

DRAMA

In May, disbarred advocate Malesela Teffo was slammed for delaying the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial with the judge saying he was 'disrespectful' and making the case about him. Tefffo caused disruptions after he arrived at the Pretoria High Court wearing his legal robes and demanded to see the judge who had been presiding over the matter, Tshifhiwa Maumela in his chambers. "We need to go into the chambers of the judge before this matter can commence," Teffo said. This was the second attempt following a September 2022 incident where he forcefully wanted to enter the judge's chambers but was escorted out of court by the police.

SPECIAL TREATMENT

When the Senzo Meyiwa trial reinstated with a new judge in July, Kelly Khumalo's sister and singer Zandi Khumalo had objected to having her testimony broadcast live, over 'fears for her safety' based on a dream she told the court she had had. Media lawyer Dan Rosengarten, dismissed this calling Zandi's court application "a publicity stunt'. "This witness has brought this application based on her dream. She says nothing about fearing for her life.The application was a publicity stunt. The state had failed to get an affidavit from its witness as to what exactly she was afraid of," he said.

REVENGE

An angry father who was overwhelmed with grief when he laid his eyes on his son's alleged killers jumped at the opportunity and threw a punch at the male accused. Murder accused, Nqobile Ndlovu and her partner, Mthunzi Zulu were arrested in May in connection to the brutal killings of Nqobizitha Zulu and Tshiamo Rabanye from White City in Soweto. The boys aged five and six years old were found dead and their bodies were mutilated a day after they went missing. Nqobizitha's father had just been released from prison when learned about his child's murder. He couldn't attend the funeral but attended the matter for the first time in October. 

MORE DRAMA 

In July, Enoch Ndou, a man who is accused of killing seven of his relatives at Jimmy Jones near Malamulele in Limpopo, broke down and cried during his trial in the High Court in Thohoyandou. Ndou caused a scene crying loudly in court much to the judge's annoyance. Ndou told the court that he was unhappy when he heard his medical report being read out in court. His defence told the court that his client suffers from bipolar disorder and asked the court to declare him unfit and be sent him for mental observation. Ndou is being tried in connection with the murder of his two nephews, his nephew's wife and four children aged between one and 12 years old on Christmas Day in December 2021.