27 Oct 2024

Four of the six men charged with terrorising Tlokweng residents for a series of robberies last year were arraigned before Ext II Magistrate Court recently and pleaded not guilty.

The four, Thabang Mokoti, 27, Tonic Samson, 28, Kenny Keeletile, 20, and Ookeditse Makuku,19, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ms Kamogelo Mmesi to answer for five charges of robbery.

The quartet are charged alongside Omphile Khanda, 28, and Pako Uwane, 25, who are also Old Naledi residents and unemployed.

Magistrate Mmesi issued their warrant of arrest after the state prosecutor, Mr Michael Mookantsa pleaded with the court to issue the warrant of arrest.

The accused persons are alleged to have on 14 January 2023 at Metlhabaneng in Tlokweng robbed Tias Tias and Refilwe Tenego household items and gadgets of undisclosed value.

 On the second account, they are alleged to have on the same day at Metlhabaneng in Tlokweng robbed Tomeletso Ramatlapeng and Victor Ramatlapeng household items and gadgets valued at over P14 000.

Still on the same day, the quartet are alleged to have proceeded to rob Gladys Zikhale, Panashe Nyatamana and Precious Masike household items and gadgets valued at over P20 000.

On the fourth charge, they are alleged to have still on 14 January in Tlokweng robbed Catharine Motlasodi and Atang Mabiletsa gadgets and household items of undisclosed value.

As for the fifth charge, the six are alleged to have on 13 January last year still at Metlhabaneng in Tlokweng robbed Kgotso Keikanee household goods and gadgets whose value was over P100 000.

In committing all the five offences, the six accused persons are alleged to have used force and threatened some of the victims with knives in order to obtain and retain the goods.

The state was represented by Mr Mookantsa of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions while the accused persons were self-represented.

The case will be mentioned on 13 November for status hearing. Ends