Chilling testimony heard in Solly Galane murder trial

Quick read

• The Polokwane High Court heard testimony last week in the murder trial of Solly Galane.

• Galane is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Phuti Mamabolo, by running her over with his car on June 25, 2022, in Seshego Zone 6.

• The trial spanned three days and included accounts from two key state witnesses.

• One witness, Mahlatse Kgobe, described a fight between Galane and Mamabolo earlier that evening at a tavern.

• Kgobe testified that Mamabolo pushed her out of the way moments before Galane’s car struck.

• A second witness, a colleague of Galane, recounted his behaviour and movements that night.

• Full story below

Full story

POLOKWANE – The Polokwane High Court heard harrowing testimony last Tuesday in the murder trial of Solly Galane, who stands accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Phuti Mamabolo, by running her over with his car in the early hours of June 25, 2022, in Seshego Zone 6.

The trial, which spanned three days from Tuesday to Thursday, saw two state witnesses recount the events leading up to Mamabolo’s death.

One of the witnesses, Mahlatse Andronika Kgobe, described in detail a violent altercation between the accused and the victim that occurred hours before her death. According to Kgobe, the incident started on the evening of June 24, around 22:00 at a tavern in Zone 4 where she and a group of friends, including Mamabolo, had gathered.

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Despite having consumed liquor, Kgobe testified that she remained clear-headed and recalled seeing Galane arrive at the tavern. A heated argument soon broke out between Galane and Mamabolo, during which he allegedly shoved her to the ground. After the confrontation, the group left the tavern for a secondary venue known informally as the ‘secret location’.

Kgobe noted that Mamabolo remained visibly shaken.

Later, while walking to a nearby tuck shop, Kgobe said she and Mamabolo saw Galane’s vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. He apparently made a u-turn and accelerated toward them from behind.

“Phuti pushed me towards the fence to save me. The car would have hit us both. Then Solly sped away,” Kgobe testified.

A second witness, who worked with Galane earlier that day at a chicken dust stall in Zone 4, gave further insight into the accused’s movements.

The witness recalled an incident around 02:00 in which Galane playfully scuffled with a colleague and fired a shot into the sky. He then left with two women, inviting the witness to join them later.

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The witness later saw Galane’s car parked outside a tavern in Juju Valley with the same women inside. He described Galane as agitated and witnessed him handing over cash to buy liquor. The group later went to a fuel station in Madiba Park for food before continuing to the ‘secret location’.

At the venue, the witness noted that one of the women with Galane ran back to alert him that Mamabolo was present.

Galane is said to have stormed into the tavern and attacked Mamabolo before leaving with the group. Later that night, Galane reportedly dropped one of the women off at her home and stopped at his residence to pick up another woman.

While driving with two women in his car, the witness, who had fallen asleep, was awakened by a loud bang and saw Galane swerving the vehicle. It was only later that they realised this may have been the moment Mamabolo was struck.

After returning home, Galane was seen retrieving a school bag from his house and instructing his passengers to get out of the vehicle.

The trial continues, with the state expected to call more witnesses.