05 May 2022

One of the suspects in the Mogoditshane Turn Right Mall cash-in-transit robbery, Mothusi Alfred Matomela has been denied bail.

Matomela was denied bail by magistrate Ms Goabaone Rammapudi-Lesedi of Broadhust Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, citing his propensity to commit crime, being a flight risk and the weighty evidence which tilted the scale towards prosecution case.

“The bail application is without merit and is refused,” said magistrate Ms Rammapudi-Lesedi. The magistrate said the character and antecedents of Matomela were against him, as he had failed to change over the years.

She said Matomela was in the past convicted of motor vehicle theft and robbery, which worked against his bail application.

She also said Matomela had a history of travelling between Botswana and South Africa and which made him a flight risk candidate.

 “He is not employed in the country and does not appear to own anything valuable that can induce him to stay,” she noted. She said Matomela was charged with a serious offence of alleged aggravated robbery which carried up to 10 years imprisonment term.

With such sentence in mind and the strong evidence by the prosecution, the appellant could be induced to flee prosecution, adding that was negating that the appellant was innocent until proven guilty or pleading guilty.

Ms Rammapudi-Lesedi however stated that the strength of evidence was an important factor when considering bail.

She said this was not withstanding that Matome was a small scale farmer and a father of four minors who depended on him socially and economically.

Magistrate said incase the appellant was given bail and fled, the prosecution would suffer prejudice and backlash from the community. Prior to bail hearing outcome, the accused was forced to offer an apology to state prosecutor, Mr Farayi Mahwite who had  complained about his conduct.

“With regard to his conduct, the way he communicates to me borders on threatening me and how I do my work,” Mr Mahwite said. He said if Matomela had a problem with him, he should put his grievance in writing through the magistrate.

Apologising to the prosecutor he said he was not aware that the prosecutor disapproved of how they communicated. Matomela is accused alongside, Thapelo Lekobe, Mzwandile Mazibuko and Ntholephi Elliot Ntshalintshali in the G4S Security P2.3million cash robbery of last year October.

They will appear before the court on May 20. ENDS