Aikona Motata: Judge decides to appeal case even though he can't pay for his current counsel [and earns 3.2 million while on leave]

He crashed his Jaguar into the wall of a residential home in Hurlingham, Johannesburg, while drunk in January 2007.

SHOOT: Hakuna matata means 'no worries' in Swahili.

clipped from www.sowetan.co.za NORTH Gauteng high court judge Nkola Motata has spent R1 million in his unsuccessful attempt to fight allegations that he had driven drunk. Yesterday he pleaded poverty in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court and asked, through his lawyer Advocate Bantubonke Tokota SC, that his sentence be “wholly suspended”. Motata has earned about R3,2 million since he was put on special leave in January 2007. Said Tokota: “He earns far less than me. I don’t even consider going to the bench. I earn 10 times more than he does. “He has spent about R1 million on legal fees and is not in a position to pay a fine. “He spends no less than R40,000 (on legal counsel) each time he comes to court.” Motata was found guilty of drinking and driving last week. Tokota indicated to the court that Motata would be appealing both his conviction and sentence. Asked whether this would not cause further financial strain, Tokota said: “It will strain him but it’s his right to appeal”.