Officer opposes bail in Fatane case

MOKOPANE – “I HAVE five valid reasons why the two suspects in the Sello Gideon Fatane murder case should not be granted bail,” stated Col William Ramogobedi, principal investigating officer in the case from Polokwane.

Ramogobedi was the first witness during the bail hearing of Thabo Matlaila and Charles Mogale in the Mokopane magistrate’s court on Monday.

Matlaila, Mogale and Desmond Machaba are charged with the murder of Fatane, who was shot and killed in front of his house in Fourie Street on Friday, March 27.

As the streets in front of the Mokopane magistrate’s court were cordoned off by the authorities and a hand full of residents singing revolutionary songs in opposition of bail, the courtroom was packed with people who were eager to here the outcome of the bail application.

Ramogobedi is also the investigating officer in the Charles Mgidig case.

Mgidi was shot and killed on April 4 at the Caltex garage in Nelson Mandela Drive by three well-known taxi owners, of which one is Machaba.

Ramogobedi said Machaba confessed that he, Samuel Matjila and Patrick Sekhu, also supects in the Mgidi murder case, concluded at a meeting that Fatane must be murdered and that Machaba was responsible for arranging someone to kill Fatatane. Machaba then contacted Mogale, who contacted Matlaila with the offer.

“In our investigation, a member of the public informed us that Machaba met with Matlaila in Mahwelereng, where he gave Matlaila 9mm rounds and 38 special ammunition. On March 28, Machaba, Sekhu and Matjila met Matlaila at the Oliphant off ramp on the N1 and paid him R40 000.”

Ramogobedi gave the following five reasons why the suspects should not be released on bail: “Matlaila and Mogale will endanger the safety of the public as they were heavily armed on the day of arrest.

“Several cases of malicious damage to property have been opened since the murder of Fatane as the community was angry and took the law into their own hands. If the suspects where to be released on bail, they will skip the country as they faced a schedule 6 murder case, and if found guilty, could be sentenced with life imprisonment.

“If they were to be released, the justice and bail system will be undermined, as it will send out the wrong message that when crimes are committed numerous times the suspect will still be granted bail.

“They can intimidate state witnesses when released on bail and will disturb public peace and order, as one of the undercover investigating officers informed us that if the suspects were granted bail the community will take the law into their own hands.

“The suspects’ safety is definitely at risk and they will be safe if kept in custody”.

The defense attorney questioned Ramogobedi and after a long day in court, the case was postponed to July 13 for further investigation.

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