08 Jun 2022

Court was yesterday forced to adjourn earlier than planned as accused, Onneetse Mabego,  fell sick when he was about to cross-examine the victim.

Jwaneng's Senior Magistrate Caroline Kataba adjourned the proceedings and ordered that Mabego (24) be taken for medical examination after he indicated that his heart was beating erratically.

Mabego is accused of rape together with Tumo Mokganedi (22) and Tshokolo Sehadi (29).

The charge sheet indicated that the trio broke into a hut where three women and a man were sleeping in Maokane on December 23, 2017. Mokganedi and Mabego allegedly had unlawful canal knowledge of one woman, one after the other, while Sehadi  allegedly raped another woman.

Mokganedi also faces a further charge of attempted rape as he initially tried to rape the third woman, but abandoned the act after she told him that she was pregnant.

Prior to the cross-examination, Sehadi indicated that he was not ready to proceed.

“I want all the exhibits, witnesses and complainants as well as investigating officer here in court before we can proceed. I cannot proceed with trial until they are all here,” Sehadi said.

He was however, assured that all his requirements would be met, but not necessarily on the day of his request.

Ms Kataba informed him that the court had its own processes, including when to call witnesses and would not dance to an accused person’s dictates.

Detailing the events of the day, one of the victims told the court that she left home in the afternoon of December 22 with a friend for some drinks at a bar in Maokane.

“We returned early because we did not have enough money. When we returned we were accompanied by a male friend whom we had offered accommodation because his place was far and it was already late, around midnight,” she said.

She indicated that around 4am they were attacked by the accused trio, with Mabego using a knife to tear off her jeans and proceeding to rape her.

“Immediately when he was done, I tried to stand up but Mokganedi followed and raped me. None of them used protection. We reported the matter to the Maokane police post the same day,” she said.

Quizzed by prosecutor, Inspector Lorato Chabaetsile how she could be certain of the identity of the accused persons, the victim indicated that there she was able to see clearly.

The victim also rubbished claims by Mokganedi that she was a prostitute and had agreed to offer him her services on the night, “you came to my place tip-toeing barefooted, which indicated that you planned the whole thing.”

The trial continues. Ends