READER LETTER | Mokgoatlheng can learn from Madlanga

Sowetan · Apr 17, 2026 · 160 words · By Reader Letter

Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial Judicial conduct

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Daily briefing

What to know about Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial

Let me start by saying I write this as a layman who has never studied law or has any formal training in law.

Claims checked 3

Techniques found 3

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Let me start by saying I write this as a layman who has never studied law or has any formal training in law.

Why it matters

However, I am shocked and embarrassed by what I witness daily in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.

Common ground

I’m particularly shocked by the behaviour of the presiding judge.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Ad Hominem: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that He is also quick to remind everyone that he is the most senior black judge?
How does this story connect Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial with Judicial conduct over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-04-17-reader-letter-mokgoatlheng-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 95% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 85% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Ad Hominem 80% confidence

Attacking the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.

Why it matters: Recognizing ad hominem helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 3 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 2

check_circle Corroborated 1

info

Claim 1: “He is also quick to remind everyone that he is the most senior black judge”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the evidence mentions Judge Mokgoatlheng's apology for racial comments and critiques of his behavior from the Black Lawyers Association, none of the provided sources explicitly state that he claimed to be the 'most senior black judge'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng's recent apology has sparked outrage, particularly from the Black Lawyers Association, which he co-founded. This article explores the historical context of Mokgoatlheng's lega…
https://iol.co.za/sundayindependent/dispatch/2025-06-15-unde…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Justice Ratha Mokgoatlheng is impatient, intolerant, irritable, partial and highly condescending to the defence team. In short, Mokgoatlheng’s behaviour can be deemed as unprofessional.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-04-17-reader-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has apologised for his utterances that had racial undertones during the former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa’s murder case in the High Court in Pretoria. Last week Thursd…
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/judge-in-meyiwa-trial-apol…

info

Claim 2: “he has used the word “yeses””

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of generic search results for 'Justice' (Plato, New Mexico DOJ, US DOJ) and contains no mention of Justice Ratha Mokgoatlheng or the specific word 'yeses'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Platonic justice Justice, according to Plato, is about balance and harmony. It represents the right relationship between conflicting aspects within an individual or a community. He defines justice as …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The New Mexico Department of Justice works to protect the rights of New Mexicans. Our mission is to help transform New Mexico into one of the safest, healthiest and most prosperous places in the world…
https://nmdoj.gov/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 3 days ago · Our Mission The mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. Our Values Independence and Impartiality. We work…
https://www.justice.gov/

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Claim 3: “Justice Ratha Mokgoatlheng is the presiding judge in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results explicitly identify Justice Ratha Mokgoatlheng as the presiding judge in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The new judge presiding over the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial played for Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs during the golden era of SA soccer. judge ratha mokgoatlheng senzo meyiwa trial kaizer chiefs so…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/senzo-meyiwa-trial-soccer-jud…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Presiding Judge in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, Ratha Mokgoatlheng.
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/ratha-mokgoatlheng-new-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Proceedings took a dramatic turn in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial Wednesday after a standoff between one of the lawyers and the judge.Judge Ratha Mokgoatlhen...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTOt9knRZqw

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.