State wants protection for magistrate’s victims
Larona Makhaiza | Friday October 30, 2026 14:21
This emerged during a testimony by investigating officer Diane Lentefetse before the Broadhurst Magistrate's Court, where Moruakgomo is facing a charge of threat to kill. She is accused of threatening to kill two fellow judicial officers, Tshoganetso Atlamelang and Lebogang Kebeetsweng. In court on Thursday, the State indicated it did not oppose bail but wants conditions imposed to protect two of her colleagues who allegedly received threats to their lives. Lentefetse told the court that the complainants remained terrified by the alleged threats and were uncomfortable sharing the same working and residential environment with the accused. 'The complainants have indicated that they are still traumatised and not yet comfortable to share the same working space and residential environment with the accused,' she said. The investigating officer added that the complainants had requested to be separated from Moruakgomo while the matter remained before court. 'We are pleading with this court to consider the complainants' plea that the accused may be separated from them whilst this matter is yet to be resolved,' The investigator, who said she had been involved in the matter from its beginning, explained that police were still pursuing electronic evidence, which forms a significant part of the investigation. 'As of now, we have been able to take the phone of the accused to forensics for further investigations and she has cooperated by handing over the phone,' Lentefetse testified. According to the investigator, most of the evidence relating to the matter was contained in electronic devices, particularly cellphones, adding that all the complainants had also surrendered their phones for further investigations. Lentefetse further told the court that police were still in the process of securing counselling for the complainants. 'We are still in the process of seeking counselling for them,' she said, noting that the court that a doctor's report indicated that the accused still needed to undergo further assessment. Recounting the events leading to Moruakgomo's arrest, Lentefetse said a report was received at Mahalapye Police Station during the night of October 11 and brought to the attention of the station commander. She then travelled to Mahalapye the following morning, October 12, to join the investigations, during which the accused was arrested. The investigator also recounted a confrontation between Moruakgomo and the complainants during the investigations, saying there was considerable tension. 'During the confrontation, the accused showed a lot of anger and to some extent she was not cooperating at the time,' Lentefetse testified. According to Lentefetse, Moruakgomo believed she was the one who had been wronged and at times did not allow the complainants an opportunity to express their feelings about the alleged threats. 'There were instances where she would not give the complainants a chance to say out their feelings about the matter because they wanted to know the reasons why she could threaten them,' she said. Lentefetse further recalled remarks made by the accused during the confrontation which raised concerns. 'At some point she said something which was a concern, that ‘no one cares for her life and no one should act as if they are concerned about her and it's her life and whatever she does about her life is nobody's business,’' Lentefetse told the court. She confirmed that Moruakgomo had been at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital since October 12. On whether the State opposed bail, Lentefetse responded in the negative when questioned by defence lawyer Obonye Jonas. However, the investigator maintained that any release should be accompanied by conditions protecting the complainants. 'She can only be given bail provided that there are conditions which will be protecting the complainants,' Lentefetse said. Moruakgomo, 40, is accused of threatening to kill Atlamelang and Kebeetsweng in a WhatsApp message allegedly sent on October 11 in Mahalapye. According to the charge sheet, the message was allegedly sent to a third person, Lentlhabetse Willie, and stated: 'I am looking for a gun to kill Atlamelang and kill myself. There will be three bodies by the end of today,' or words to that effect. She is charged under Section 220 of the Penal Code. The court expected to consider the bail application and any conditions necessary to safeguard the complainants and deliver ruling next week Tuesday.