24 Nov 2023

Molepolole Magistrate Court today (Friday) arraigned 23-year-old Bakang Masole of Segole ward in Lerala for two offences; murder and robbery.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Gaseitsewe Tonoki, a charge sheet was read before the accused in which Masole is accused of murdering Phenyo Jakoba on or about November 9 near Mosinki lands in Molepolole.

In the second offence, Jakoba is accused of robbing Phenyo Jakoba and at the time of stealing, or immediately before or after used actual violence to retain his blue Honda fit car valued at P40 000.

Jakoba was reported missing on November 9 and his body was discovered in a bad state of decomposition on November 21.  He was buried on November 22 in Molepolole. On Thursday November 23, riots erupted in Molepolole following an alleged confession made by the accused at his rented home at Goo-Dira ward in Molepolole. 

Following that alleged confession, an enraged mob torched a house which is believed to be the accused’s rented house and a nearby house also caught fire.  The riots spread throughout the village with the mob burning the roads, the stadium, the main kgotla shelter and a house belonging to a pastor. 
Jacoba will appear again on December the 18 for mention. End