Suspects nabbed for murder of relatives denied bail
APEL – The Polokwane High Court postponed the case against Katlego Ratsoma (32), Prince Mathe (27), a Zimbabwean national, Moditi Luprey Kgathliso Ratsoma (29) from Apel, Ga-Maisela to 9 April for further investigations.
The three accused are currently facing two murder charges, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating the ends of justice and kidnapping.
Moditi Ratsoma was the only accused who made bail application and the other two accused abandoned their bail application. Moditi is currently in police custody after he was denied bail.
Mashudu-Malabi Dzangi, NPA Regional spokesperson in Limpopo, said during the bail hearing, the state opposed the bail application of Moditi, stating that the nature and gravity of the charges the accused is facing are serious and that there is likelihood that the matter will be arraigned in the High Court.
Malabi-Dzangi indicated that the applicant supplied false information, when he submitted that the state witnesses were unknown to him, whereas they were known to him as he is related to the state witnesses.
“The state further submitted that he is a flight risk because police officers could not locate him as he was evading arrest and hiding in Gauteng. The police circulated his pictures on social media, and he was then subsequently arrested. The applicant failed to show the court that exceptional circumstances exist, to permit his bail. He submitted that he is a breadwinner for his girlfriend and child,” explained Malabi-Dzangi.
Their court appearances emanate from an incident in which the deceased Magdaline Motlanthe and her son, Juda King Motlanthe, were shot and killed.
It is alleged that in January 2024, the deceased persons were reported missing by their family members. On 13 January 2024, the police discovered the dismembered body of Magdaline without a head, arms and legs in a decomposed state. Not far from her body, some of her missing parts were found in Zebediela. The head of the deceased was found about 143km away in Tzaneen. The body of the son, Juda, was discovered at Apel in a shallow grave.
