Rich picking for Afrikaans interpreter

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THE Afrikaans interpreter hired in a theft case involving two South African nationals pocketed double what local interpreters earn monthly in the 14 hours that he was at the Gwanda Magistrates’ Court.

THE Afrikaans interpreter hired in a theft case involving two South African nationals pocketed double what local interpreters earn monthly in the 14 hours that he was at the Gwanda Magistrates’ Court. OWN CORRESPONDENT

According to documents gleaned by Southern Eye, Paul Oliever was paid $630 for the time he spent in court on Monday and Tuesday.

Oliever was hired after Lourens Botha and his son Lourens (Jr), who are accused of stealing a generator worth over $30 000, indicated that they were not comfortable testifying in English and wanted to use their mother language, Afrikaans. The trial continues.

Meanwhile, the Filabusi Magistrates’ Court is seeking the services of a sign language interpreter to assist a deaf man who has been charged with stocktheft.

The deaf man, Sinini Moyo (25), and Lungisani Ndlovu appeared before Filabusi resident magistrate Mzingaye Moyo facing charges of stealing 20 cattle valued at $8 800. Ndlovu pleaded guilty to charges of stocktheft, but the magistrate postponed sentencing him so a sign language interpreter could be found to assist Moyo to follow proceedings.

The State said on an unknown date, but sometime between June 20 and July 19, the two connived to steal the beasts from a grazing area in Mbondweni and drove them about 30km away to Neyezi.

The two were seen by villagers and the matter was reported to the local neighbourhood watch committee, which arrested the two and handed them over to the police.

Moyo and Ndlovu are in custody and will appear in court tomorrow when a sign language interpreter would have been secured.