By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) took a broadside on the defence team in Coligny murder case for delaying tactics.

This came out after the North West High Court set March 19 to 30 as trial dates for two men arrested for the murder of Matlhomola Moshoeu (16) in Mahikeng on Monday.

A pre-trial conference was held in Mahikeng on Monday after earlier postponements.

Pieter Doorewaard (26) and Phillip Schutte (34) were arrested after they allegedly killed Moshoeu. It is alleged that Doorewaard and Schutte found Moshoeu stealing sunflowers on their farm and apprehended him.

The suspects say that they put the deceased in the back of the bakkie and ferried him to Coligny Police Station. They further allege that Moshoeu jumped off the moving bakkie and died.

The case was transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng to set a trial date.

NPA regional spokesperson, Frank Lesenyego said the pre-trial conference was postponed to 12 December 2017 after the defence legal team claimed that some documents in the sockets were unreadable.

“It is all systems go from our side and we are ready to continue with the trial. The defence team is also ready as they said in court.

“The case will commence for two weeks. The accused will be back in court from March 19 till 23 and from March 26-30.

“We believe that we have a strong case against the accused. Thepre-trial conference was postponed indefinitely after  the defence’s legal team claimed that some documents were unreadable,” Lesenyego said.

He further said that the NDP regarded that as a delaying tactic from the defence.

“The defence team was called on November 7 after this matter was transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng to get copies of the docket.

“However, they did not come on the scheduled date. The  defence only came on November 13. We believe that this could have been averted because they would have highlighted to us that some statements were unreadable. The NPA could have typed them and handed them over to them on time,” Lesenyego said.

The accused are out on R5000 bail each. On the day they were granted bail, Coligny residents ran amok and a number of houses were burnt down in protest.

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo said they rebuilt one often houses burnt during protests in Coligny.

Mahumapelo said the house belonged  to a white woman and they would hand it over to the owner in a  few weeks.

“This is part of Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal (RHR). A journey to Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal is a never-ending one because where people are involved there will always be a need to foster mutual understanding.

“However, it would be very difficult to have RHR without economic development,” he said.
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