By REGINALD KANYANE
An urgent bail application in a murder case against four accused will resume today at Taung Magistrate’s Court. A local businessman and alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (31), Thabang Lenyai (23), Phenyo Katong (34), and Katlego Mosimege (31), who allegedly brutally killed Thabiso Mothibedi (35), made an urgent bail application and their request was granted.
They were arrested in April 2022 for allegedly killing Mothibedi, who was one of their loyal customers after accusing him of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house at Manthe village, near Taung.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Lenganeng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and transported him back to Manthe village.
“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival.
“The accused were arrested and charged with Thabiso’s murder,” Tselanyane said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in armed and allegedly torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family. The murder case against the accused was initially postponed to 15 February 2022, but they made an urgent bail application for 22 November 2022, which was granted.
However, magistrate Edwin Letsapa postponed the matter until 5-6 December 2022. Letsapa said this was to give enough time to both the defense and state to prepare for their ‘heads of arguments’ for bail application.
Meanwhile, community members packed the court to the rafters. They also submitted a petition calling for no bail against the accused.
Thabiso’s aunt, Kehilwe Modisakoma said: “We were not even informed as a family about this urgent bail application launched by the accused. So, we just wonder why it was made a secret. However, we do not want to see these criminals getting bail because they sell nyaope to the youth.
“They turned Thabiso into their slave and killed him afterward. Nyaope is killing the future of many young people and we hope that the justice system will take that into consideration. We call for no bail against the accused because we are not sure what will happen if they are granted bail.”
One of the community leaders, Rapampiri Motshitshi shared the same sentiments. Motshitshi said they do not want to see the accused in their community because of the criminal activities they execute.
“Our youth are faced with a bleak future because they are destroyed by nyaope. The only thing that we want is to see a clean community that is free from drugs. These young boys come to our houses and steal just to feed their cravings,” he said.
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