18 Jul 2024

Mochudi based police officer Katlego Dikeleko, who is accused of raping a colleague, has told court that he is battling with mental health problems due to the case.

He expressed this on July 17 when appearing before Principal Magistrate Ms Queen Moanga at Mochudi Magistrate’s Court to confirm trial dates scheduled for August 14 to 15. 

He said the case was taking toll on his mental health and he was booked to see a specialist psychiatrist at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital on September 15.

As such, he said the dates proposed by the court were not suitable as he would not have seen a psychiatrist. 

Though Magistrate Moanga commended the accused person for his initiative of addressing his mental health status, he however said court could not change the dates unless there was communication indicating that he was not fit to stand the trial, which the accused did not produce.

According to the charge sheet, the 31-year-old faced single count of rape contrary to section 141 as read with section 142 (2) of the penal code. 

Particulars of the offence are that Dikeleko on or about November 13, 2023 at or near Phaphane Ward in Mochudi in Kgatleng Administrative District had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a certain woman. 

The accused person’s acts were said to have been violent resulting in the injury of the victim.

On the second count of robbery, Dikeleko is said to have on the same day, contrary to section 292 (2) of the penal code robbed the victim a Huawei Y7 cellphone valued at P2 000 and cash amounting to P3 000, being the property of the victim. 

It is said that immediately before and after stealing the said properties, the accused used actual violence on the victim to take and retain properties in question.  

The state is represented by Ms Seeletso Ookeditse of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions while the accused is self-represented. Ends