Mokopane - The man alleged to have killed his ex-girlfriend’s nine-year-old son in Mokopane, Limpopo, was denied bail in the Mokerong Magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Residents of Mzombane village in Mokopane protested outside the courthouse as the bail application of Jimmy Makhubele was heard.
Katlego Lesenya, 9, went missing on May 21. Makhubele was arrested days later and allegedly pointed out to police the place where he dumped the boy’s body in a ravine in Bakenberg.
According to police, Lesenya’s mother, Nancy, a police officer attached to the family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) unit at Mokopane, had ended her relationship with Makhubele the day before the boy went missing.
Lesenya’s neighbours held up placards claiming Makhubele was a “devil”.
“Jimmy Makhubele deserves to die. Why did you kill our child Katli?” read one placard.
While some were happy Makhubele was denied bail, others wanted the court to release him, saying they were even willing to pay his bail.
“We wanted Makhubele to be granted [bail] so that we can make him feel what he did to us when he killed our son,” said community member Lizzy Masingi.
Masingi said the boy’s killing had led to mistrust among residents.
“Whenever we see a stranger we start to ask ourselves what are they going to do to our children or sisters,” said Masingi
The court earlier heard that Makhubele had called Lesenya shortly after the kidnapping to inform her of his actions.
Relatives claimed if police had acted more swiftly the child could have been saved. Makhubele had allegedly repeatedly told police that he would return the kidnapped boy. However, Makhubele failed to do so for more than three days, prompting the boy’s family to approach senior police management in the province to intervene.
The case against Makhubele was postponed to August 11.
ANA