The soldier, of the Lance Corporal rank, is said to have fatally shot Elizabeth Ramolala alongside her grandchildren Alefha Ramolala and Katlego Ramolala before torching the house with their bodies inside. Only one grandchild of Elizabeth, Happy Ramolala, survived the wrath of Mokomeng. Additionally, he is accused of shooting police officer, Thabo Dibotelo, who survived the ordeal with only a gunshot wound. Dibotelo is also alleged to be an investigating officer in a defilement case involving Mokomeng, which is earmarked to have caused his killing spree after being served with court papers. Appearing before Lobatse Magistrates' Court, Prosecutor Modibedi Tladi stated that they would like to amend the initial charge sheet against Mokomeng. “This matter is scheduled for a status update and in light of that we have added three more counts, making the total counts nine.
Therefore, we apply that he be subscribed to the new charge sheet,” Tladi said. The six initial charges against Mokomeng are three murders of Elizabeth and her two grandchildren, the attempted murder of Happy Ramolala and Officer Dibotelo who was shot in his right shin, and arson. The three new charges are of malicious injury to property: On Count 7, Mokomeng has been charged with malicious injury to property to Dibotelo’s house by willfully and unlawfully firing gunshots, damaging windows and a door. On Count 8, Mokomeng faces a similar charge but this time around the malicious injury to the property of Wathapelo Tiro resulting in damage to the windows. The last count of the new charges is also of malicious injury to property. He is charged with causing damage to the Toyota Hilux of the late Elizabeth who was killed by Mokomeng. In light of these developments, Prosecutor Tladi made an application for the accused to be further remanded in custody.
“The investigations in this matter are still ongoing and the victim in count five (Dibotelo) has been discharged but is on sick leave and recovering. So we request that the accused be further remanded in custody,” Tladi said. Taking into consideration the submissions made, presiding magistrate Tshoganetso Atamelang asked the accused if he had anything to say. In his reply, Mokomeng confidently said “no” looking across the full court with his cool demeanour. Seeing how the murder accused is unfazed despite the addition of three more new cases, the magistrate asked Mokomeng if he is being treated well by the prison officials. The latter responded by simply saying “yes sir” raising no concerns. With the accused raising no issues, Magistrate Atamelang acceded to the State’s pleas. “The accused is further remanded in custody pending investigations and will appear for the next status update on April 1, 2025,” ordered Atamelang. The case continues.
