06 Mar 2016

Principal Magistrate Monashe Ndlovu of Broadhurst court, on Thursday, granted conditional bail to two women accused of murdering Thamaga sisters.

The accused, Caroline Gwamolumba and Bakang Godisang, got bail after their lawyers argued that the two were good candidates for bail more so that the first accused, Gwamolumba who was away on chemotherapy treatment in South Africa could not stay in prison because of her medical condition. 

Gwamolumba's attorney, Mr McBain Kaang,  told the court that care and medication taken by his client required a conducive atmosphere other than prison environment.

Above all Mr Kaang said since the prosecution was unwilling to grant bail on the basis that investigating team had intercepted information that the lives of the accused were at risk should they be granted bail.

Attorney for Godisang, Mr Herbert Sikhakhane,  said the prosecution should not deny their clients the right to liberty on the argument that the public was still seething with anger.

Mr Sikhakhane said there was no such a time when the public’s anger could be said to have ultimately subsidised and therefore prayed the court to at least arrange for a safe place for the accused other than prison. Furthermore, he said those who contemplated attacking the accused while in bail were knocking in the door of trouble.

The prosecutor, Inspector Onkemetse Gaboutlwelwe, from Broadhurst Police Station told the court that although they did not oppose the granting of bail, their primary fear at the moment was that investigators had information that suggest that the two accused could be harmed.

Inspector Gaboutlwelwe also told the court that investigations in the matter were ongoing and were still awaiting report from police forensic department. In the meantime, she said should the accused be given bail, there would be no any special dispensation that they would be given to them.  

Nevertheless the parties finally agreed on bail and the court ordered that the accused each deposit the sum of P3 000 with the treasury, each secure two close family sureties who will bind themselves with the sum of P2 000, report once every Monday fortnightly at the nearest police station and surrender their traveling documents. They will come for another mention on April 28, 2016.

Gwamolumba and Godisang are accused of setting Tuelo Mokgalo and Kgalalelo Mokgalo’s rented house in Block 3 location in Gaborone on fire on December 23, 2015. It is reported that the senior sister, Tuelo, who was  pregnant by then, was a love rival to Gwamolumba, and she ultimately gave birth under severe injuries. 

Tuelo later died on December 31, 2015 while her sister, Kgalalelo died the following day on January 01, 2016. Ends