The attempted murder and assault case against businessman Edwin Sodi has been struck from the roll.

Sodi was charged in connection with a March 2022 incident at his Bryanston home involving his estranged wife, Nthateng Lerata, and a male friend of hers, Faizal Motlekar. 

Sodi had allegedly tried to shoot Lerata before his firearm jammed and then allegedly hit Motlekar over the head with it. 

News24 says the case came before the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday for what was supposed to be the start of the trial, but it was struck from the roll after the court heard the parties had reached a settlement agreement, and neither Lerata nor Motlekar wanted to pursue the case any longer.

Prosecutor Dinesh Nandkissor, however, told the court that the late Deputy NDPP, Rodney De Kock, had decided to continue with the case despite Lerata and Motlekar's positions, because of the serious nature of the offences in question.

In a letter explaining his stance, which was read into the record by Nandkissor, De Kock had said further that the case included ‘an element of gender-based (violence) that is prevalent in the country which requires the courts to send a very strong message that such conduct is shunned upon’.

However, Magistrate Hleziphi Mkhasibe, after adjourning for Nandkissor to contact Motlekar and establish his current position, struck it from the roll.

Sodi is also an accused alongside former Free State Premier Ace Magashule in a graft case in that province centring on a dodgy R255m asbestos removal tender.

Full News24 report