It is unfair to compare the position of Schabir Shaik with that of former police commissioner Jackie Selebi. The latter is unlikely to be applying for his release under medical parole. Shaik was released in terms of section 79 of the Correctional Services Act 1998 (the Act) which provides: “Any person serving any sentence in […]
Michael Trapido
Mike Trapido is a criminal attorney and publicist having also worked as an editor and journalist.
He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools.
He married Robyn in 1984 (Mrs Traps, aka "the government") and has three sons (who all look suspiciously like her ex-boss).
He was a counsellor on the JCCI for a year around 1992.
His passions include Derby County, Blue Bulls, Orlando Pirates, Proteas and Springboks.
He takes Valium in order to cope with Bafana Bafana's results.
Practice Michael Trapido Attorney (civil and criminal) 011 022 7332
Posted inGeneral
Mandela wedding is a misguided act of defiance
South Africans should be annoyed at the defiance showed by the grandson of former president Nelson Mandela in proceeding with a wedding which was clearly in contempt of a court order. On Saturday Mandla Mandela married his third wife, Swazi princess Mbali Makhathini, in a traditional ceremony despite an interdict prohibiting him from doing so. […]
Posted inGeneral
Christmas? They’re trying to kill off Jeremy Clarkson
Mrs Traps is outraged at the fact that this Christmas, her favourite time of year, she has seen very few television programmes celebrating the holiday. Despite being Jewish she loves the carols and all the other festivities that Christians traditionally employ to remember their saviour. On Christmas Day she normally serves up her famous ‘Turkey […]
Posted inNews/Politics
President Zuma’s report card
It seems as if the Democratic Alliance was a little bit hasty in grading President Jacob Zuma and the Cabinet with the former being given an “F” for failure while the latter, with a few notable exceptions, not doing much better. Of course simply furnishing us with an overall symbol without going into any detail […]
Posted inGeneral, News/Politics
Jub Jub must address the appropriate intention required for murder
As the defence in the Jub Jub murder trial continues in Soweto it is becoming apparent that the form of intention required for a conviction is not completely understood by the hip-hop star. Murder is the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being. Intention is divided into three types of dolus as opposed to […]
Posted inGeneral
Selebi won’t be released on medical parole
While speculation is rife about the current state of former police commissioner Jackie Selebi’s health, and pursuant thereto the possibility of him reporting to prison to begin serving his sentence, one thing is certain at this stage, he does not, as yet, qualify for medical parole. In terms of section 79 of the Correctional Services […]
Posted inGeneral
Not The Mac Maharaj News
While going through the Sunday papers it became clear to me that the media are under immense pressure to stay within the bounds of South African law. Not only is a Protection of State Information Bill on its way but the National Prosecuting Authority Act and even the case law prohibiting the naming of litigants […]
Posted inNews/Politics
What a day in court might look like if secrecy bill becomes law
While academics and theorists debate potential scenarios which may arise out of the Protection of Information Bill let’s take a trip in a time machine to a bail application that we can look forward to at the end of next year. Hopefully this will finally bring home the reality as opposed to the theory. BAIL […]
Posted inNews/Politics
‘Black Tuesday’ protest the least we can do
In light of the current legal action being taken by presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj against the Mail & Guardian for what he claims are breaches of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act, coupled to the decision to proceed with all haste, and very little consultation, on the Protection of Information Bill, the very least South […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Divorce can be deadlier than criminal law
While I specialised in criminal law in 1997 I have been inundated with divorce matters almost from the time that I elected to narrow down the cases that I would be prepared to deal with. The problem is that ordinary people, both men and women, who feel slighted or emotionally scarred by their spouse’s conduct, […]
Posted inGeneral
Secrecy Bill good in theory, police state in practice
The Protection of State Information Bill will be tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday where it may be referred to a parliamentary ad hoc committee or passed and sent to the National Council of Provinces for deliberations. This does not mean that it cannot be amended or modified before being sent to President Jacob […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Dr Murray guilty but bail refusal an aberration
The verdict of guilty of involuntary manslaughter delivered by the jury in the People of the State of California v Dr Conrad Robert Murray is, in my humble opinion, the correct one. The decision by Judge Michael Pastor to deny Murray bail pending sentencing and appeal is however an aberration without any basis therefore. Let’s […]