Bail for fourth suspect in Mmathethe ritual murder

Tumelo Mouwane | Wednesday March 9, 2016 17:51

 

Mmathethe village chief, Daniel Mathiba’s two sons, Ofentse (28) and Tumediso (34), are suspects in the case, together with Thato Keosaletse (23). The three were granted bail last week.

A fourth suspect, Gindra Stegling (19), a herdboy at Mmalore lands where the deceased worked, was granted bail on Monday.

The four suspects are alleged to have acted jointly and murdered a Zimbabwean man, John Ngwenya for ritual purposes on the night of January 26 at Mmalore lands. Ngwenya’s body was found with several injuries. The chief’s sons were arrested on February 8 in connection with the incident.

Stegling was granted bail on condition that he reports to Mmathethe police station every Monday, binds himself with P2,000 and has two blood relatives as sureties, with each paying P500 surety. He was instructed not to commit any offence whilst on bail.

In another matter, five men escaped jail by a whisker when a complainant in their robbery case withdrew it. Gontse Molosiwa (23), Kabo Moshasho (20), Lesego Ditsele (20), Daniel Molatole (19) and Bakang Nthathe (20) all from Molapowabojang faced one count of robbery.

The accused were alleged to have robbed Bonani Solomon of his Samsung phone valued at P400 on January 23, used violence and overcoming his resistance by hitting him with fists and stones.

In withdrawing the case, Solomon told the court that: “I have decided to withdraw the matter out of mercy and forgiveness. The accused persons are very young and they have a future ahead of them. They have also promised to compensate me”.