Alleged abductor also accused of slitting dog’s throat
The man who was assaulted after a kidnapping case was opened against him was in court on Friday for animal cruelty.
Kenneth (Nkosana Prince) Motsoane appeared in court last week, first for kidnapping and then regarding an animal cruelty case where a dog’s throat was ‘cut open from ear to ear’.
Motsoane was arrested on November 11 for kidnapping and an additional charge of pointing a firearm. He appeared in court last Wednesday for formal bail application, but the case was rolled over to Thursday. On Thursday it was rolled over again to today (Tuesday).
He has been charged with kidnapping after Refilwe Khathatso opened a case against him, saying he took her against her will from the rehabilitation centre at Botshabelo. Motsoane’s lawyer, Jaco Kruger, said in court that his client claimed she was his girlfriend.
Khathatso denied that she was his girlfriend, stating that Motsoane is like an ‘uncle’ to her and that she stayed with him and his wife at one stage.
• Last Friday, Motsoane was also brought to court for an animal cruelty case. SPCA Senior Inspector Petro Oberholzer opened the case in July 2023 after a dog, presumed to belong to Motsoane, was found with its throat cut open.
The SPCA was contacted after people at 4SAI saw the dog in a yard.
Upon investigation, Oberholzer found the dog, “His throat was cut open from ear to ear, but he was still alive.” There was also a piece of cloth, which looked like a scarf, tied around his neck.
Oberholzer found Motsoane, and he permitted them to euthanise the badly injured dog. In February, Motsoane appeared in court for the first time and the case was postponed to July, but he didn’t show up at court, and a warrant of arrest was issued.
He was arrested on October 2 and appeared in court the same day. His excuse why he didn’t appear in court in July was due to being ill.
• After Motsoane’s arrest on the kidnapping charge, someone took a video in the offices of the Middelburg Detective Branch where Motsoane was assaulted.
Brigadier Donald Mdhluli (Provincial Police spokesperson) made it clear that police officers were not responsible for assaulting Motsoane.
Tshepo Eric Masemola was arrested in connection with the assault on the evening of November 28 and he appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court the next day on a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous body harm.
To see the video of the assault (not for sensitive viewers) and more information about the assault, click here:
