The seven men accused of kidnapping and severely assaulting a Johannesburg student last year still do not have a trial date, leaving the victim no closer to justice. The men appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, following an earlier postponement on 15 August. The case has been mired in nearly a year of bureaucratic and logistical delays, with no trial date yet set. On Thursday, the court heard that due to a potential conflict of interest, the attorney for accused 1, 2, and 3 had to withdraw from the case. A colleague will now take over their representation. The court has indicated that the matter is ready for trial, and it has been postponed to 16 September 2024 for a potential trial date to be set.