Muder accused Solly Galane to go on trial in July

POLOKWANE – The trial date for murder accused Solly Galane was set for July 29 to August 2 when he made a brief court appearance in the Polokwane High Court on March 26.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder against his ex-girlfriend, Phuti Mamabolo.

The police earlier reported that her body was found in the streets of Zone 6 in Seshego shortly after she had reportedly broke off her relationship with the accused.

Galane was earlier granted bail of R500 after Mamabolo filed an assault case against him.

He initially appeared in the Seshego Magistrate’s Court for her murder and abandoned his bail application, but recently applied and was granted bail of R15 000.

In another matter at the same court, it was ruled that the case against Adv Lawrence Tleane should proceed as a murder trial.

The defence in the matter originally sought to have the case tried as one of culpable homicide in a longstanding application, while the state pressed for a charge of murder. Tleane’s legal counsel had argued that they interpreted evidence at their disposal as showing there was no intent on his part to murder his partner, Tumi Seshuene in Lesedi Park in December 2021 when he is said to have run her over with his vehicle.

Read more: High Court rules Adv Tleane should be tried for murder of girlfriend

Gender-Based Violence activism organisation, Lentswe La Ka Foundation member Maletsema Ramokone initially said, given Tleane’s “high profile allegiances” as an advocate of the high court, that they viewed his application to have the charge changed, as an attempt to manipulate the justice system.

This trial was scheduled for March, but Tleane’s legal counsel brought about an interest to change the charge after the date had been set.

During his bail proceedings in September 2022 in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court, the matter was provisionally withdrawn as the docket could not be found on the court roll. Later, NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi announced that the docket had been found and placed in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on whether to reinstate, which was subsequently done.

The trial will start on November 18.