Picture: The slain nurse, Irish Mohokare/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
A man who was arrested for allegedly killing a nurse in Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke is expected to do for a formal bail application on 6 September 2023. Bongane Shebi (24), who allegedly murdered Irish Mohokare (47) in her rented backroom during a suspected robbery on 12 October 2022, briefly appeared at Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
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 wanted 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.
The Guardian 