21 Jun 2017

A Molepolole man suspected of murdering two people in two separate incidents between February 2016 and March 2017 has been denied bail.

Molepolole senior magistrate, Ms Lindiwe Makgoro dismissed Kennedy Mokate’s bail plea, saying he demonstrated dishonesty.

She added that Mokate, 28, could not be relied upon due to constant committal of similar offences while on bail.

The facts of the case are that the accused allegedly murdered Kgotlamotse Jonase at Mosuaditshwene ward in Molepolole on March 30 this year while on bail.

He also allegedly murdered Fortunite Mguni at Medie in February 2016.  

Magistrate Makgoro dismissed the suspect’s plea for bail, arguing that he could not be trusted as he had already bridged bail conditions granted for the previous murder case.

Magistrate Makgoro emphasised that although the accused remained a suspect until proven otherwise, it would be risky to free him when his character showed that he could not be trusted with bail.

Mokate had pleaded with the court to grant him bail, saying he had the responsibility of a highly pregnant woman who relied on him.

Meanwhile, a case in which three men are facing a single count of robbing Taj Filing Station in Molepolole over P300 000 is scheduled for trial on June 27 before Molepolole senior magistrate Makgoro.

The two accused persons, Moses Tankomane and Mothusi Popego aged 32 and 36 of Phalane and Monametsana wards in Molepolole respectively, acting together in consent with Wabo Nthole of Broadhurst, who is still at large, allegedly robbed Taj Filling Station over P300 000 in July 2011 by using violence on Malebogo Titi. BOPA