Mandla Mishack Mlimo v The State

The appellant was tried in the Pretoria High Court on charges of murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances arising from a shooting incident at the Rahman family home in Laudium, Pretoria on 6 November 2005. During the incident Mr Abdul Rahman was fatally shot and his wife, Mrs Alida Rahman, was shot in the hand. The appellant was acquitted of robbery with aggravating circumstances but convicted of murder and attempted murder, receiving life imprisonment and twelve years’ imprisonment respectively. Ballistics evidence linked the bullet removed from the deceased’s body and cartridges found at the scene to a firearm owned and licensed by the appellant. The appellant denied all involvement, closed his case without testifying, and appealed against his convictions and sentences.

The appeal against the convictions and sentences was dismissed.

The case affirms South African principles on judicial conduct and fair trial standards, clarifying that active judicial participation does not necessarily render a trial unfair. It also reinforces the approach to expert evidence in South African law, confirming that practical experience can suffice for expert status even without completed formal qualifications.