An Eastern Cape attorney who was representing a 22-year-old murder accused withdrew his services when his client appeared in the Dutwya Magistrates court on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Viwe Rulumeni is accused of stabbing his girlfriend Kwaza Zozo to death in full view of several eyewitnesses in August.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Luxolo Tyali says Rulumeni's attorney told the court that he knew the victim's father well as they went to school together and therefore he could not represent the accused.
Rulumeni tried to commit suicide shortly after the murder by drinking pesticide.
He has since abandoned his bid for bail.
The matter was postponed to the 20th of October for Rulumeni to get a new legal representative.
The 20-year-old Kwaza Zozo grew up in the Eastern Cape but was a student at Wits University at the time of her death.
