Murder trial set for High Court

It has been over a year since the brutal murder of Sam Junior Mbatha. With investigations completed, the case is expected to be transferred to the High Court, where the four accused will go on trial.
On 17 June 2021, the charred body of a man was found in a burnt-out Hyundai i20 at a soccer field in Ikageng Section. It took six excruciating months of waiting for DNA samples to identify the body as that of Sam Mbatha, an award-winning MC and LGBTQI+ community activist.

On 21 June 2021, police arrested Arthur Khoza (19), Thato Masetla (22), Junior Modise (21), and Mahlatsi Nkuna (21) at a house in Phutha Section, Klipgat, in connection with the murder.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame, a house search was conducted, and bloodstains were found on the floor, under and on top of a bed and a carpet. “An axe suspected to have been used during the commission of this crime was found on the roof of the house,” Mamothame said.

On 26 July, the final indictment will be served on the accused, and the case will be transferred to the High Court for pre-trial proceedings.
Meanwhile, Modise was granted bail and warned to be present in court at the next appearance, while Mosetlha’s bail hearing is set for 7 July, after he initially abandoned it.
Khoza and Nkuna are still out on R500 bail each. Their bail conditions are that they must report to the Klipgat Police Station every Wednesday and Sunday between 17:00 and 18:00. They are also barred from interfering with the state’s witnesses.