The High Court of South Africa, North West Division at the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court postponed the trial against three men allegedly involved in Sam Mbatha’s murder to April.
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 tri-al 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 and car-pets and under beds. Furthermore, an axe, suspected to have been used during the com-mission of this crime, was found on the roof of the house.
“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 7 July 2022, after he had 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 between 17:00 and 18:00 every Wednesday and Sunday. They are also barred from interfering with the state witnesses,” Mamothame concluded.
