07 Sep 2016

Jwaneng Magistrate Odirile Mokgatle has remanded three men in custody who are suspected to have stolen four matimela calves at Sekwele lands. Bele Keolebile Ditau (60) of Moshupa, Sane Motsemme (36) of Kanye and 20 year old Sethunya Simanka are alleged to have committed the offence on August 2, 2016 and they have since been incarcerated.

The trio pushed their bail application on Friday to have their freedom through their attorney Mr Gosiame Digangwa. However the prosecutor Inspector Lorato Chabaetsile availed the investigating officer in the matter Constable Thatayaone Magosi to update the court on why they want the accused’s remand warrant to be extended.

Constable Magosi told the court that investigations on the matter were still ongoing and they were still looking for the mothers to the calves in question. He said there were two people who approached the police to claim two of the four calves. He also mentioned that if the accused were to be released on bail they might temper with investigations as they suspect that the accused knew exactly where the mothers were.

Constable Magosi also highlighted that the investigating team was still physically searching for the mothers in the bush and they want to establish whether the people who claim that the two calves are theirs are telling the truth.

Magistrate Mokgatle however noted that the cows that are being hunted by the investigating team do not form part of the matter and the said complainants should not use the police nor the accused to push their case. He said the court observe with due diligence the presumption of innocent until proven guilty and the constitutional rights of the accused to liberty.

“The suspicion that the accused might abscond trial has not been clearly addressed but am called to address the issue of the gravity and the nature of the offence,” explained Mokgatle.

He said  stock theft is relatively a serious offence and the recovered calves are  at a sucking age adding that, it’s a pity the investigating team does not have a lead to the whereabouts of the mothers  and it is almost a month since the accused were incarcerated.

He noted that it was however important to give prosecution time to do their investigations and he further remanded the trio in custody for 14 days where upon  they will be given bail without any application. He further ordered that the accused should secure two sureties each who will bind themselves with P1000 each. The accused will report themselves at Jwaneng Police every Friday and attended to all court sessions. ENDS