Roossenekal farm murder accused turns down bail
Firearms linked to Robert Stoltz's murder was recovered in a joint police operation.
One of the men accused of the brutal farm murder of Robert Stoltz (78), Bobo Mokoena, turned down the opportunity to apply for bail on Monday.
Mokoena appeared in the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on Monday for a formal bail application and remains in custody.
The case has been postponed to a later date. Mokoena was arrested on May 18 at his workplace in Laersdrif.
Following his arrest, a second suspect, Bazali Mathebula (29), was apprehended on May 20, following a successful intelligence-driven operation. He appeared in the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on May 23.
Mathebula was taken into custody during a joint operation conducted by the SAPS, the Sekhukhune Tracking Team and BMO Security Company.
He was charged with murder and the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The multi-disciplinary action led to the recovery of four unlicensed firearms and 218 rounds of ammunition, some of which have been linked to the farm murder of Stoltz in Roossenekal on April 30. Mathebula was granted bail of R4 000 and the case was postponed to June 23 for further investigation.
“Acting on credible intelligence regarding a firearm reportedly stolen during a farm attack, the officers were led to a farm in the Laersdrift area, within the Roossenekal policing precinct. There they apprehended Mathebula and recovered a disassembled shotgun. Investigations later confirmed that the firearm had been brought to the location by one of two previously arrested suspects linked to the Stoltz murder case,” said the Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.
He added that a further search of Mathebula’s residence yielded a substantial weapons cache.
Officials found one rifle with a magazine and ammunition, two shotguns, one pistol with ammunition, and a total of 218 rounds of ammunition of varying calibres.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the recovered shotgun, pistol and rifle were the property of a private security company based in Thulamashe, the director of which is now deceased.
This operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and strong interagency collaboration in tackling serious crimes impacting rural communities.”
Ledwaba said the investigation into Stoltz’s murder is ongoing and additional arrests have not been ruled out.
