The High Court of South Africa, North West Division at the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court began trial against three men involved in Sam Mbatha’s murder. Arthur Khoza (19), Mahlatsi Nkuna (21), and Thato Mosetla (22) are facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder, malicious damage to property and defeating the ends of justice.
According to Henry Mamothame, the NPA (North West) spokesperson, the state has completed leading its evidence with three of its witnesses and is expected to call on more as the trial proceeds. “The matter is scheduled to sit until Friday, 27 January 2023,” he confirmed.
The three suspects were arrested following an intensive investigation by the police, linking them to the murder of Mbatha. An investigation led police to a house near Klipgat in the Phutha section on Monday, 21 June 2021, where they found bloodstains on the floors, under beds and on carpets.
Furthermore, an axe suspected to have been used during the commission of this crime was found on top of the roof of the house. After six excruciating months of waiting for DNA samples to identify the body as that of the former NWU employee, award-winning MC and LGBTQI+ community activist. “DNA samples positively identified Sam Mbatha as the deceased person, whose body was found inside a burnt Hyundai i20 vehicle, at a soccer field in Ikageng Section on 10 January 2021,” Mamothame said.
Mosetla was denied bail on 07 July 2022, after he initially abandoned it, after his arrest. Meanwhile, Khoza and Nkuna are out on R500 bail each. “Their bail conditions are that they must report to the Klipgat Police Station, every Wednesday and Sunday, between 17h00 and 18h00, and they are also barred from interfering with the state’s witnesses,” Mamothame concluded.
