Ritual murder suspect not a bishop
Sharon Mathala | Tuesday February 16, 2016 15:34
An affidavit from the Christian Apostolic Church in Zion City leadership, which Mmegi is in possession of, states that Mokate had long been exempted from the position of bishop and is now an ordinary member of the church. Archbishop Dan Jack Maudlin writes in a sworn affidavit that Mokate was fired from his position because of alleged mis-dealings within the church. The affidavit, signed by the Police Commissioner of Oaths October 26, 2015 in Molepolole reads, “Ke le archbishop Dan Jack Mabunda wa passport no… ke rurifatsa ka botlalo fa e le nna motlhami (founder) wa kereke ya Christian Apostolic Church in Zion City. Ke tsaya sebaka se ka thomo le tumalano ya Phuthego ya C.A.C mo Botswana gore Bishop Mojalemotho J. Mokate a seegiwe mo kerekeng a sa thole a le bishop wa kereke e. Lebaka la se kegore Rre Mokate o sale a neelwa Boikarabelo jwa go tsamaisa kereke ka ngwaga wa 2006, mme le jaana o paletswe ka go tlhoka tsamaiso ee tshwaneng”.
In the affidavit signed on December 22, 2015 after the arrest (two months after being dismissed), Mokate said that by virtue of being a bishop, he could not kill and he could not “participate in such evil.”
“My faith, Christianity, teaches that ‘thou shall not kill’ and I fully subscribe to that. Not only do I teach this central theme of our faith, I fully live it,” reads Mokate’s affidavit. The affidavit was part of his plea to be granted bail during the course of investigations, citing among other things that he was family man, a bishop and a respected member of society. He says he has no desire to be a fugitive from justice and that there is nothing to run away from.
He and his fellow five accused were denied bail by the presiding Magistrate, Lindiwe Makgoro citing fear of societal uproar. The six men are accused of allegedly killing Nthabiseng Motlogelwa at Mpadithata settlement on the outskirts of Molepolole last year October.