According to the charge sheet, Van Niekerk initially instructed Boqwana Burns Incorporated, a law firm that was not on the municipality's panel of preferred service providers. "So, like I said last week Friday, the deal on the table was that I plead guilty to something about R28,000 or so. With the plea agreement now off the table, Van Niekerk said he will instead defend the full case. Van Niekerk acknowledged that proceeding to trial would be costly but said he had no intention of admitting guilt. Van Niekerk also suggested the trial would have political significance ahead of the upcoming local government elections.