More accused persons expected in Salakae case
Larona Makhaiza | Friday August 28, 2026 13:55
Salakae and his co-accused, Tau Grading & Building Construction PTY LTD, Seby Jose, Hugo Lemcke, Christiaan Lemcke, Kgakgamalo Ketshajwang and Mompati Sepego appeared before the Regional Magistrate Mareledi Dipate today for arraignment. During the court appearance, the State indicated that investigations into another individual had been concluded and a decision had been taken to add the person to the charge sheet. Director of Public Prosecutions, Kgosietsile Ngakaagae, said the individual was referenced alongside Kgakgamalo Ketshajwang in count three. “At the time when the charge sheet was drafted, we were still doing due diligence regarding the circumstances of this other individual,” he told the court. “That has come to an end and a decision has been made to include him alongside the accused in count three.” According to Ngakaagae, prosecution was not done, signalling that the corruption probe could ensnare more individuals. “In the next mention we will have more accused persons. At this stage we can't disclose names because it will be unfair to the accused,” he added. “The State asked that pleas be reserved until the charge sheet is amended and all the accused persons can have their pleas taken at once. We will request pleas be reserved and may they be taken in one seating and further to amend the charge sheet as it needs to be fixed.” The prosecution also confirmed that it would not oppose bail for the accused persons, albeit under different conditions. For the first and other accused persons, the State proposed bail on their own recognisance of P10,000 each, two Batswana sureties each and an undertaking to attend court whenever required. The second accused Hugo, a non-national, will be required to pay P30,000 bail, be given back his passport, provide two Botswana citizen sureties and report to the police once every month. Defence counsel, Unoda Mack, confirmed that the accused persons were in agreement with the proposed bail conditions, with the second accused agreeing to report at Gantsi Police Station on the first day of every month. The State is expected to disclose its evidence to the defence by September 11, 2026, while the matter will return to court on October 9, 2026, for plea taking. Salakae and co were charged with corrupting a public officer, corruption, abuse of office and money laundering. At the centre of the charges is the award of Gantsi - New Xade road project wherein alleged P1. 6 million and Toyota Fortuner were offered to the former minister. The case continues.