Picture: Three of four murder accused persons/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
10 December 2025- A murder case against a rapist and alleged murderer, Bakang Katong (32), his co-accused, Thabang Lenyai (23), Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34), was postponed to 19 January 2026, by Taung Regional Court for pre-trial.
The accused persons were arrested three years ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35), in cold blood. This comes after they accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried 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 murder,” he said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
Setshwantsho: Balatofadiwa ba le bararo go ba le bane mo kgetsing ya polao
OBAKENG MAJE
25 Tlhakole 2025- Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le banna ba le bane ba kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung, e buseditswe morago go fitlha kgwedi ya Motsheganong e tlhola matsatsi a le 5. Bakang Katong (32), yo o atlholetsweng dingwaga di le robedi kwa kgolegelong mo kgetsing ya petelelo, ga mmogo le balatofadiwa nae mo kgetsing ya polao, Thabang Lenyai (23), Katlego Mosimege (31) le Phenyo Katong (34), ba ne ba tlhageletse ka boripana kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la Moshupulogo.
Balatofadiwa ba, ba ile ba tshwarwa dingwaga di le pedi tse di fetileng morago ga go latofadiwa ka go bolaya Thabiso Mothibedi (35), setlhogo. Go begwa fa ba ile ba mo teketa le go mo golegelela mo generateng.
Seno se tla morago ga gore ba latofatse Mothibedi ka go ba utswetsa madi a seatleng a lekang ka R20 000 le motsoko wa R600.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, mokaptein Sam Tselanyane, o ile a tlhalosetsa ba lekwalo-dikgang la Taung DailyNews gore dipatlisiso di shupa fa tiragalo e, ele ya di 29 Moranang 2022. Tselanyane are go ile ga begwa fa moswi a ile a siela kwa motseng wa Longaneng.
“Fela, go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba ile ba tswa letsholo le go mo latela. Go begwa fa go gorogeng ga bone kwa motseng wa Manthe, ba ile ba gokelela moswi mo generateng, mme ba mo teketa go fitlhelela a tlhokafala.
“Go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba ile ba tabogisetsa moswi kwa kliniking ya selegae fa ba bona a neela mowa. Baoki ba ne ba tlhalosa fa go se sepe se ba ka se dirang go boloka moswi, gonne one a setse a balelelwa le badimo,” Tselanyane wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, ka di 1 Motsheganong 2022, baagi ba ile ba bolotsa mogwanto kgatlhanong le balatofadiwa, mme ba ile ba fisa matlo a bone a le mararo mo tiragalong e. Gape, baagi ba ile thuba le go senya ntlo-maitiso ya balatofadiwa, mme ba itseela le nnotagi.
Go begwa fa Katong le Lenyai ba boleletse lekgotlha ka mokgwa wa toriso ya lekwalo gore, ba ipona molato mo ditatofatso tsotlhe kgatlhanong le bone, mme ba tlhalositse fa Mosimege le Phenyo, ba ne ba sena seabe mo tiragalong e.
Mo letlhakuring le lengwe, bosekisi le bone bo tlhalositse fa boitekanetse go ka tswelela ka tsheko, mme bo shupa fa bona le kgetsi e kwenneng kgatlhanong le banna ba, ba le bane.
Picture: Three of four murder accused persons/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
15 January 2025- A murder case against a rapist and alleged murderer, Bakang Katong (32), his co-accused, Thabang Lenyai (23), Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34), was postponed to 24 February2025 by the Taung Regional Court.
The accused persons were arrested two years ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35), in cold blood. This comes after they accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried 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 murder,” he said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
14 January 2025- A trial on a murder case against a rapist and alleged murderer, Bakang Katong (32), his co-accused, Thabang Lenyai (23), Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34), is expected to commence today at Taung Regional Court.
The accused persons were arrested two years ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35), in cold blood. This comes after they accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in 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 Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried 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 murder,” he said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
Picture: Some of the accused persons in a murder case
By OBAKENG MAJE
3 October 2024- A trial date has been set on a murder case against four accused persons from Manthe village, near Taung. The convicted rapist, Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34), were arrested two years ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35), in cold blood.
This comes after they accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in 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 Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried 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 murder,” he said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
Setshwantsho: Banna ba le bararo go ba le nne ba ba latofadiwang ka polao
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
2 Lwetsi 2024- Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le banna ba le bane ba kwa motseng wa Manthe gaufi le Taung, e siametse go ka seka. Kgetsi e buseditswe morago go fitlha di 11 Lwetsi 2024.
Mobeteledi, Bakang Katong (32), ga mmogo le balatofadiwa jaaka ene, Thabang Lenyai (23), Katlego Mosimege (31) le Phenyo Katong (34), ba ne ba tlhageletse ka boripana kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno.
Balatofadiwa ba, ba ile ba tshwarwa dingwaga di le pedi tse di fetileng morago ga go latofadiwa ka go bolaya Thabiso Mothibedi (35) setlhogo. Go begwa fa ba ile ba mo teketa le go mo golegelela mo generateng.
Seno se tla morago ga gore ba latofatse Mothibedi ka go ba utswela madi a seatleng a lekang le R20 000 le motsoko wa R600.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, mokaptein Sam Tselanyane, o ile a tlhalosetsa ba lekwalo-dikgang la Taung DailyNews gore dipatlisiso di shupa fa tiragalo e, ele ya di 29 Moranang 2022. Tselanyane are go ile ga begwa fa moswi a ile a siela kwa motseng wa Longaneng.
“Fela, go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba ile ba tswa letsholo le go mo latela. Go begwa fa go goroga ga bone kwa motseng wa Manthe, ba ile ba gokelela moswi mo generateng, mme ba mo teketa go fitlhelela a tlhokafala. Go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba ile ba tabogisetsa moswi kwa kliniking ya selegae fa ba bona a neela mowa.
“Baoki ba ne ba tlhalosa fa go se sepe se ba ka se dirang go boloka moswi, gonne one a setse a balelelwa le badimo,” Tselanyane wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, ka di 1 Motsheganong 2022, baagi ba ile ba bolotsa mogwanto kgatlhanong le balatofadiwa, mme ba ile ba fisa matlo a bone a le mararo mo tiragalong e. Gape, baagi ba ile thuba le go senya ntlo-maitiso ya balatofadiwa, mme ba itseela le bojalwa.
Jaanong mo letsatsing la gompieno, mmueledi wa balatofadiwa, Advocate Oswald Mokhutsane, o boleletse kgotlha-tshekelo fa a le pudi-matseba, mme a emetse go tswelela ka tsheko. Go ya ka Mokhutsane, o tlile go biletsa kwa pele, paki ele nosi ga mmogo le balatofadiwa.
Mokhutsatse o tlhaloseditse lekgotlha fa a ka tlhoka matsatsi a le mararo go ka konosetsa dipotsolotso go dipaki tsa gagwe. Are balatofadiwa ga ba tle go ipona molato mo kgetsing e.
Mo letlhakuring le lengwe, bosekisi le bone bo tlhalositse fa boitekanetse go ka tswelela ka tsheko. Bo tlhalositse fa bo tla biletsa kwa pele dipaki di le thataro, mme bo ka tlhoka matsatsi a le mabedi go ka konosetsa dipotsolotso go dipaki tse.
Bosekisi bo tlhalosistse fa bo tlile go rebola bopaki gape ka mokgwa wa dipholo tsa morago ga loso le ditshwantsho tse di tshotsweng kwa lefelong la tiragalo.
A murder case against four accused persons will resume today at the Taung Regional Court. The convicted rapist, Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34), were arrested almost two years ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood.
This comes after they accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in 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 Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried 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 murder,” Tselanyane said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
Meanwhile, the court heard that there was a letter from the community members requesting that the murder case be transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng owing to its nature, however, that was not entertained.
It is alleged that the state is set to call seven witnesses, while the accused persons will call four witnesses. There were also allegations that the accused persons intended to plead guilty. However, it is yet unknown if that is still their intention.
Picture: Three of the accused persons, Bakang and his brother, Phenyo Katong and Katlego Mosimege
By OBAKENG MAJE
The alleged key witness in a murder case against four accused persons, the convicted rapist, Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34) found dead at Chris Hani/Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto yesterday. It is alleged that, Setshwantsho Tlhomelang, who has been missing for months was found dead at the hospital and it was clear what he was admitted for.
It is alleged that Tlhomelang used a different surname at the hospital, but the hospital managed to trace his family through a physical address that was factual.
According to allegations, Katong offered Tlhomelang and Lenyai R50 000 each to take a ‘fall’ on a murder case, however, Tlhomelang refused. Instead, he allegedly turned a state witness and was expected to give evidence during a trial in October 2023.
Bakang, who is currently serving eight years in prison for rape, his brother Phenyo Katong, Thabang Lenyai and Katlego Mosimege were arrested more than a year ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood.
They accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in 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 Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried 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 murder,” Tselanyane said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
It is alleged that the state is set to call seven witnesses and Tlhomelang was one of them. The defense lawyer is expected to call four witnesses. There were also allegations that the accused persons intended to plead guilty.
However, it is yet unknown if that is still their intention. The case has been postponed to 2 October 2023.
Picture: The accused persons, Bakang Katong, Bakang, Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
A murder case against four accused persons resumes at Taung Regional Court today. The convicted rapist, Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34) were arrested more than a year ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood.
They accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in 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 Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried 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 murder,” Tselanyane said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
Meanwhile, the court also heard that, there is a letter from the community members requesting that the murder case be transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng owing to its nature.
It is alleged that, the state is set to call seven witnesses, while the accused persons will call four witnesses. There were also allegations that, the accused persons intended to plead guilty. However, it is yet unknown if that is still their intention.
The Guardian 