Man shot through throat by alleged hitchhiker
Stopping to pick up a hitchhiker cost a man his life.
NELSPRUIT – A man was shot in the neck, dragged out of his vehicle and left for dead in the middle of a deserted road. These are the events which transpired in a trial where three men appeared in the Pretoria Circuit High Court in town on Wednesday.
Mr Isaac Sebokuboku Phala (29), Mr Calvin Tjatji (24) and Mr Tshepo Seloane (23) have pleaded not guilty on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
According to the charge sheet, on August 22, 2010 a Modikwe Mine worker Mr Madingwana Max Matlou (43) was driving on the R37 between Lydenburg and Burgersfort, in the latter’s direction, when he stopped to pick up a hitchhiker – Phala.
It stated that Tjatji and Seloane were hiding in the bush when the deceased stopped his silver Toyota Corolla. The report said Phala then drew a weapon and pointed it at Matlou and ordered him to stop. He tried to pull away, but Phala shot him in the neck.
The charge sheet also stated that all three of the accused then dragged Matlou’s body out of the vehicle and left him in the middle of the road. He died shortly afterwards of his wound, and his body later found.
The vehicle was then recovered about 30 kilometres from the murder scene after it had veered off the road and overturned. The report stated the post-mortem said the cause of death was a gunshot through the neck.
Const Ernest Vuma Mgwambi testified in court that he had traced Tjatji first as he had sold Matlou’s cellphone to Cash Crusaders in Witbank. He said he had found him and Seloane already in police custody for other cases against them. He then tracked down Phala at his house through Tjatji.
He said all of them saw a doctor before they did their pointing out of the scenes of the crime, and had the medical reports as evidence that the accused were uninjured. Mgwambi verified that they were read their constitutional rights before they made their statements. “They were all very cooperative and willing to give their testimonies to a senior police officer but did not want to make statements to a magistrate.”
The trial continues. All three suspects are remanded in custody.
