HIJACKERS

BURGERSFORT – A court case involving three young men from the Greater Tubatse Municipality in Limpopo, who are accused of assassinating a mine worker continues in the Nelspruit Circuit of the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. The three were arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a motorist who offered them a lift

Isaac Sebokuboku Phala (30) from Ohrigstad, Calvin Tjatji (23) from Newstand in Leboeng, and Tshepo Seloane (26) of Mooihoek pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and armed robbery. Phala also faces extra charges of possession of firearm and ammunition without a licence.

On September 17 they told the judge that they were denied a chance to lay assault cases against the Lydenburg police who arrested them.

On August 22, 2010 Phala was allegedly picked up by Mr Madingwana Max Matlou (43) of Elephant Hill in Burgersfort, who was driving from on the R37 Road from Lydenburg to Burgersfort.

Matlou offered Phala a lift, and as they were driving out of town just opposite Skhila Secondary School, the latter ordered him to stop. When Matlou turned to his direction, he allegedly shot him in the left side of his neck and he died on the scene.

It is alleged that the other two accused arrived at the scene, dragged Matlou’s body from the car and placed him in the middle of the road where he was left.

They allegedly drove on to Burgersfort and were involved in an accident about 25km from the scene.

It is further alleged that they took Matlou’s Samsung cellphone, which was later found at a well-known cash trader in Witbank.

During the trial within a trial, Phala testified that he was assaulted by a constable using the back of a firearm on the back of his head during his arrest in Witbank on June 7.

Tjatji also said that after he was assaulted on June 4, he allegedly told a certain police captain at Leboeng Police Station about it.

Seloane testified that he was also assaulted by police from Tubatse Police Station on June 6, 2011. He alleged that pepper spray was used and his head was covered with a plastic tube.

The matter will continue in the same court from December 9 and they will remain in custody.