Community members oppose bail for three suspects

Angry people, mostly women, who marched to the Tshitale Magistrate's Court last Friday went back home happy. The marchers from Sereni  were demanding that the three men arrested for the murder and rape of a local gogo be refused bail.

Happy Mohale (24), Stanley Zwidofhela Mugwena (31) and Thomas Serepa (29) stand accused of murdering and raping Mojaji Sebyene (83) last month at Sereni. All three, residents of the area, are facing charges of murder, rape, arson and robbery.

The demonstrators at the court demanded that the suspects be removed from their community. They also demanded that the courts be harsh on the suspects and not grant them bail as they were regarded as a danger to the community.

Representing the community, Mr Lesley Rikhotso said the community was tired of endless and senseless murders. “We have buried many women over the years in this village, and many died under mysterious circumstances. We are here to say 'enough is enough'. So much innocent blood has been shed, and we want this to end immediately,” he said.

Rikhotso said their village had become like a slaughterhouse, where many had already lost their lives. What worried them most, he added, was that most of the cases where people had been killed remained unresolved. “We do not want more people to die under mysterious circumstances. If these people are granted bail, they might continue with their murderous spree. Let them be locked up forever,” he said.

He said the community did not want to see the suspects again in the village as the community felt that they might continue with their cruel deeds. “We need the justice system to make sure that this man does not get bail,” an unhappy Rikhotso said.

The case was postponed to 3 September for a bail application, but at the time of going to press, the outcome of the hearing was not yet available. The three remain in custody

Date:05 September 2014

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Read: 1545