23 Oct 2025

Two men accused of breaking into Goodhope Rural Administration Centre Offices and stealing items worth over P86,000 between December 31, 2021 and January 5, 2022 have demanded that Lobatse senior magistrate  Tshoganetso Atamelang  should  recuse himself from their case.

The items that Kgosietsile Pilato,  41, of Molepolole, and Orapeleng Motshidisi, 29, of Papatlo were accused to have stolen  included three desktop computers, a laptop, bar fridge, camera, two camp chairs, and a gazzebo, amongst others.

First accussed, Pilato alleged that  the prosecuting officer, Mr Mompati Koosimile accepted P4,000 bribe from him not to register the case with  court and have Pilato walk free. Additionally, Pilato claimed that his phone, which had information which he could use as evidence in his defence, was stolen by the police in Francistown.

Magistrate Atamelang dismissed the claims as an attempt to derail the court, pointing that the allegations levelled by the accused were of no effect to the case. Furthermore, he cautioned Pilato who had maintained his innocence, that causes of action could arise from the allegations he made.  

 “I do not understand why a bribery was given if there was no offense committed. This is a case of defamation that the officer might raise. You have just conceded that you bribed the prosecutor, are you aware that conceding that you bribed a public officer is a criminal offense punishable by law?” he said.

In a dramatic turn of events, the accused then pressed for the Senior Magistrate to return the case to Chief Magistrate Rebecca Motsamai who initially handled it, claiming that Mr Atamelang was biased against them.

Mr Atamelang however said: “The issues you are raising are trivial, and do not necessitate my recusal.”

He said he could not delay trial with trivial matters and therefore set November 3, 5 and 7 as the trial dates. ENDS