By REGINALD KANYANE

A murder case against a man who allegedly killed a nurse in Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke in North West was postponed until 13 April 2023. Bongane Shebi (24) was arrested for allegedly killing a nurse, Irish Mohokare (47) in her rented backroom on 12 October 2022. 

The North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha condemned Mohokare’s killing and said the deceased was recently promoted to the position of Facility Manager at Charon Clinic for her untimely death.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman in North West, Henry Mamothame said the case was postponed awaiting the DNA results and also for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to authorise the transfer of the case to a higher court.

Mamothame said Shebi abandoned his bail application and he will remain in police custody until the matter is concluded. 

“Mohokare’s bloodied body was discovered by her landlord on 13 October 2022 with her throat slit open. The landlord subsequently informed the police, who immediately started investigating.

“Shebi became a person of interest after police received information while doing investigations. He was spotted wearing bloodied clothes not far from where the incident took place,” he said.

Mamothame further said, the police then started looking for the accused and ultimately arrested him on 15 October 2022. He said Shebi allegedly informed the police that he wants to confess.

“He was subsequently taken in for a confession to be obtained and later took the police, where he had thrown away the bloodied clothes he was wearing. According to police reports, the accused alleges he was in the company of another person.

“However, the motive only became clear in the accused person’s confession. Shebi said he and another person intended to rob the deceased. He further alleges that he is not the one who stabbed the deceased, but it was the person whom he was with,” he said.

Mamothame added that, the police have indicated that evidence was obtained at the scene, indicating that only one person was at the scene at the time of the commissioning of this offense.

Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party (SACP) in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati regional secretary, Sandile Kgosieng calls on law enforcement agencies to diligently and expeditiously handle the investigations to build a water-tight case against Shebi.

“We want to see the police securing a conviction in the murder case. As an organisation that is fully committed to the plight of women and children, we are against the granting of bail to suspects involved in brutal crimes such as murder and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases,” he said.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A former Grade 12 learner at Leruntse Lesedi Secondary School in Makwassie, near Wolmaranstad, North West who was declared dead said he demands answers from the North West Department of Education. 

Thabo Nicholas Monyane (21) alleged that the department declared him dead after the passing of another learner who carried the same name as his. 

The confusion was created by the death of another learner, Thabo Monywabe who passed away in June 2022. Now, Monyane said he wants justice to prevail because this mess has plunged him into depression.  

“I did not even receive a letter of admission to writing including the examination number. I was asked to use my identification document as proof every time I write.

“What hurt me the most is that, I was secluded from other Grade 12 learners whenever writing my exams. This made other Grade 12 learners to mock me and hurl insults toward me by calling me an illegal foreigner,” he said.

Monyane, who was doing Mathematics Literacy, Geography, English, Setswana, Afrikaans, and History as subjects said, he wanted to further his studies at university and become a teacher one day.

“However, I am stuck now because of this mess. The matric final examination results were out on 20 January 2023, but I only received mine three weeks after that. I was not happy at all with my results because they were too bad. I do not even think those are my results because I studied so hard,” he said.  

Thabo’s mother, Martha Monyane shared the same sentiments. Martha said the whole fiasco has affected her son badly.

“He is always indoors because he does not want to face people. This situation has caused confusion in our lives and I do not even know how to handle it anymore. We understand that, the learner who passed away, was reported dead in June 2022.

“As a parent, I was made aware of this matter when we were called to sign pledge forms in September 2022. The teacher who informed me about this matter said, my child might not be able to write his final examinations due to the mixed-up of the death of another learner,” she said.

Martha said, however, the school promised to sort the mess out, but nothing has been done.  

“They have only instructed my son to re-write his final examinations. Thabo fainted at school while writing his final examinations. He was taken to the clinic but ordered back to the school to finish his paper, which I think was inhumane.

“He was also secluded from other learners while writing his final examinations. I asked the school why my child is being separated from other learners, but I did not receive a straight answer,” said Martha.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesman, Elias Malindi said investigations into the matter are underway.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The accused who was arrested for allegedly killing a nurse in Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke, is set to apply for bail on Wednesday. Bongane Shebi (24) allegedly murdered Irish Mohokare (47) in her rented backroom during a suspected robbery on 12 October 2022.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Mohokare’s bloodied body was discovered by her sister with her throat slit open on 13 October 2022.

“She subsequently informed the police, who immediately started investigating. Shebi became a person of interest after police received information while doing investigations.

“He was spotted walking on with bloodied clothes not far from where the incident took place. The police then started looking for the accused and ultimately arrested him on 15 October 2022,” Mamothame said.

He further said upon arrival at the police station, Shebi informed the police that, he wants to tell the truth.

Mamothame added that the accused was subsequently taken in for a confession to be obtained and later took the police to where he had thrown away the bloodied clothes he was wearing.

“Shebi alleged that he was in the company of another person, but the motive only became clear in the accused person’s confession.

“He said they were intending to rob the deceased. However, Shebi alleged he is not the one who stabbed the deceased, but the person he was with,” said Mamothame.

Mamothame said, the police have indicated that the evidence obtained at the scene, shows that only one person was at the scene at the time of the commissioning of the crime.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati regional secretary, Sandile Kgosieng said: “Mohokare was brutally murdered and the accused is expected to apply for bail today after he previously abandoned it. We urge law enforcement agencies to diligently and expeditiously handle the investigations to build a water-tight case.

“We want to see the police securing a conviction in the murder case. As an organisation that is fully committed to the plight of women and children, we are against the granting of bail to suspects involved in brutal crimes such as murder and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases.”

Kgosieng said they urge members of the community and his colleagues to accompany and support the family of Mohokare during the court appearance.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha condemned the brutal killing of Mohokare. Sambatha said, Mohokare was recently promoted to the position of Facility Manager at Charon Clinic.

“Mohokare’s murder is devastating and we called on communities to protect women. As the department, we condemn the atrocity in the strongest terms. Mohokare was murdered only two days after assuming her new role.

“It is an unfortunate and disturbing reality that women in this country are no longer safe. Our communities and homes have become a haven for criminals, who prey on women and young girls,” he said.

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