06 Aug 2025

A resident of Mogoditshane, Ronald Molefe (39), who is accused of murdering his girlfriend on Sunday, has been remanded in custody for 14 days, pending bail application hearing.
The remand was to allow the state to compose itself, with the view to establish grounds objecting his release on bail.
He appeared before Chief Magistrate Mr Gofaone Morweng of Broadhurst Magistrate Court on Tuesday.
Molefe is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Gomolemo Lethowe in Mogoditshane on August 3.
The investigation officer, Detective Constable Thabang Mogorosi told the court that investigations into the murder incident were still new and the state was to record statements from all potential witnesses.
He stated that since the accused, deceased and potential witnesses reside in the same compound, Molefe’s release could compromise their investigations.
Mr Mogorosi also told the court that the tempers of the deceased’s family were still high and could harm the accused person, adding that the family had not even collected the deceased’s clothes.
He said the deceased and the accused were in a love relationship and stayed at the accused’s family rented house.
“We also fear for the accused’s safety as tempers are still high,” he said, adding that keeping the accused person in custody was also for his safety.
However, Magistrate Morweng questioned the logic of keeping Molefe in custody for his own safety.
Mr Morweng stated that every person’s rights were guaranteed and protected in the Constitution, and being in prison did not protect nor guarantee rights.
Magistrate Morweng also requested the prosecution to balance protecting the accused’s rights and curtailing his liberty.
Further, he noted that the investigating team had ample time to record statements from witnesses and that the prosecution had not addressed the court on the strength of its case against the accused.
Therefore, he instructed the state to compose itself and address the court on August 21 regarding its stance against admitting the accused person to bail. ENDS