22 May 2017

The co-accused in the murder of pastor Mooketsi Mogomotsi’s wife Dianah Mogomotsi were granted conditional bail by magistrate Keabetswe Mojuta recently.

Magistrate Mojuta granted the murder accused Thapelo Tlhase and Mokganedi Porogwane conditional bail and stated the duo is to remain in custody until they each paid the sum of P2 000 and a P1 000 fee to be paid by a citizen custodian for them to be released on bail.

Mojuta also said during the time of their bail the two accused were to submit their travelling documents and report to Mochudi police every two weeks and were not to come in contact with pastor Mogomotsi neither should they go near 100 metres with him or his children as requested by the defence attorney Mr Karabo Masuku.

She also said pastor Mogomotsi on the other hand should not be in contact with either one of the two accused as the three were witnesses against each other as requested by council Mabala Rabashwe who represented Tlhase.

Before the ruling, prosecutor Mr Tlotlang Malatlhwa held that the two accused were to remain in custody as he feared for their safety as their lives could be endangered by the congregation of Apostolic Faith Mission and the public that was rallying behind pastor Mogomotsi.

Prosecutor Malatlhwa also stated that the issue of exhibit or evidence was still with the service providers and nothing had been provided regarding the analysis of evidence and he feared that should the two accused be granted bail their lives could be in danger.

Defence lawyer Rabashwe opposed the state citing that the fate of the two accused could not be determined by the reasons given by the state and said the two should be admitted to bail as the first accused was given bail even though the state opposed it giving the same reasons they were providing.

Porogwane who represented himself said he requested bail as he had to go back to his work which was suffering and that he wanted to re write his statement.

He added that he was under duress during investigations that was why he wanted to make another statement.

Thapelo Tlhase (24) and Mokganedi Porogwane (41) who are also alleged to have assaulted pastor Mogomotsi pending the said debt of P73 000 for the murder of his wife will appear for mention on July 5. ENDS