Bothashoek man arrested for killing young girl

PRAKTISEER

Patrick Putana Lephoto, from Bothashoek appeared before the Praktiseer Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder last Friday. He was denied bail and his case was postponed to September 21.
Lephoto was arrested by the Tubatse SAPS on September 8 in connection with the alleged brutal murder of an 11-year-old girl Kgothatso Dibakoane of Praktiseer.

The young girl’s body was found by community members dumped next to the Tubatse River. Her body had wounds, and had injuries on her neck and back of her head .”It is alleged that on Tuesday, September 7 at about 15:00, the young girl was playing with other children outside her home when she saw her mother’s ex-boyfriend passing and approached him.”The two then left together until it became late prompting the mother to search for the victim.”The mother was then informed by neighbours that the child was last seen leaving with her ex-boyfriend . She reportedly rushed to his house in Bothashoek, but the suspect denied having information about the child’s whereabouts and even assisted the terrified mother with the searches,” revealed Limpopo SAPS spokesman Brig Motlafelo Mojapelo.

After the discovery of the body, the police were informed and swiftly visited the scene. They then commenced with initial investigations. The deceased was identified by her family as Kgothatso Dibakoane

“The suspect was arrested on the same day at his house after he was positively linked to the incident through forensic evidence. Preliminary investigation indicated that the child might have been raped before the murder, post-moterm will however be conducted to determine how she was killed, “added Mojapelo.Limpopo provincial commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe has strongly condemned this incident in which yet again, another vulnerable member of society has fallen victim to heartless individual.Hadebe thanked Tubatse SAPS members for acting promptly in arresting the suspect.

In another incident, Kibi Josias Leboho (34) will appear for bail judgement on September 16 at Polokwane Magistrates court after he allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend in the parking area of Shoprite Supermarket at the corner of Grobler and Landross Mare streets in Polokwane.
The bullet riddled body of Tshepo Rakoma (32), was found inside a motor vehicle in the parking area.

It is alleged that when Leboho arrived at the shopping centre, an argument ensued between him and Rakoma. Leboho took out a firearm and shot her several times. She died instantly.

Leboho went to the third floor of the nearby building and threatened to kill himself. He was later arrested by the police who recovered on him a firearm believed to have been used in the murder. It belonged to a taxi owner, Khazamula Steven Mathebula. In a separate matter, Mathebula was charged with negligence loss of a firearm.