This was when a trial date was expected to be set.

The date was agreed upon after much deliberating between Jackson, who stands accused of assaulting a former employee at his Rivonia, Johannesburg strip club last year, and his legal team.

Following an instruction by the magistrate for a date to be set for the next appearance, advocate Kenny Oldwadge said it would be difficult for him and his client to attend in the next two months due to commitments abroad.

Oldwadge said he had a case to attend in London, which would most likely lead him to travel to other countries. Jackson would be in and out of the country due to business commitments.

Eventually, both decided on 21 July.

"It is unfortunate that the State put us in this position," said Oldwadge.

Magistrate JE Jansen van Rensburg accused the State of dragging its feet in supplying the defence with all necessary documents. However, she said she could not find any prejudice in the case.

This was after Oldwadge questioned whether his client would have a fair trial after the court was told of a missing docket.

In 6 February the case was postponed after the charge sheet was only made available to Oldwadge five minutes before Jackson was called to the stand.

"The State has foreseen since April 15 that there was going to be problems... We will not condone the State's failure, their attitude can only be described as contentious.

"It has taken the State five months to give us the charge sheet," said Oldwadge in his submission.

The case had been postponed at least three times due to lack of preparedness of the State. Oldwadge called this an unreasonable delay.

Jackson, wearing a black suit and a pink striped shirt, handed himself over to Sandton police on 10 April last year and was detained for eight hours before he was granted bail.