25 Aug 2025

Prominent attorney, Mr Kgosietsile Ngakaagae has withdrawn his services for 39-year-old murder accused Ronald Molefe, citing lack of truthfulness on the part of the accused.

“What the investigating officer has just told court and what the accused told me differs. I warned him yesterday that I do not represent clients who lie to me,” he said on Thursday before Magistrate Gofaone Morweng, where he was making an initial appearance for the accused.  

Mr Ngakaagae told court that he had dedicated a significant amount of time consulting with the accused’s family and the accused himself in prison the previous day to understand the matter they sought for his services.

However, he said due to the accused’s dishonesty over his involvement in the matters, he decided to withdraw his services. 

Earlier, Detective Constable Thabang Mogorosi who is the case investigation officer, demonstrated to court that the murder was premeditated.  

He said the accused allegedly on the day discovered that the deceased was cheating on him with another man, went home to collect a knife around 1am., and later around 4am stabbed the deceased over twelve times on the chest.

This testimony however irked Mr Ngakaagae causing him to withdraw from the case he was prepared to argue for the accused. 

“I therefore recuse myself in this matter, he will represent himself,” he said, before asking court permission to leave. 

In his pursuit for bail, the accused pleaded with court to grant him bail, promising to abide by all conditions, not interfere with police investigations, and citing his young child who needs his care. 

He also stated that being on bail would give him an opportunity to look for an attorney to represent him going forward.

However, Magistrate Morweng denied him bail, stating that the accused had not presented any exceptional circumstances to motivate his bail as required by law.  “Those are not exceptional circumstances; they are ordinary,” he said.  The accused, who is unemployed and stayed with his girlfriend at his parent’s rental property, is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Gomolemo Lethowe, at Mogoditshane on August 3. 

The accused will appear for a status hearing on September 25. ENDS