Makola and Matenche’s cases postponed to January 15

GA RIBA

A Ga-Riba Village tavern owner, Nkomo Matenche, and his alleged accomplice, Noah Makola, appeared in a fully packed Praktiseer Magistrate’s Court on October 30, facing charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.
The two were denied bail and were remanded in custody. Their cases were postponed to January 15 for further investigation.
They are accused of the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl, Khomotjo Matench, from Ga-Riba, who has been missing since 2018. Nkomo is a distant relative of the missing teen.
On August 22, the Limpopo police discovered human remains, suspected to be those of Khomotjo, in a demolished pit toilet at Ntepane Primary School, also in Ga-Riba.
The remains have not yet been positively identified and forensic investigations have yet to determine the identity and cause of death.
The Limpopo police’s spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, said they had dispatched a team of police experts to conduct an investigation on the school premises on Wednesday night, August 21, and discovered the remains.
The Limpopo police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, urged the community to remain calm and allow the police to do their work.
Police investigations are ongoing.