Brits – The lives of two women accused of murdering a North West schoolgirl by setting her alight would be in danger if they were granted bail, the Brits Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday.
“It is not safe for them to go outside. The community is fuming. Their safety cannot be guaranteed,” former Madibeng mayor Poppy Magongwa told the court.
Magongwa, representing the South African National Civic Orgnisation (Sanco), told the court that even if the accused could relocate to new addresses, there was a possibility that their whereabouts could be made known to the general public.
She was testifying in the bail application of Gugulethu “Sharon” Thwala, 23, and Koketso Moyo, 22.
The pair were part of a group of four people who allegedly kidnapped Boitumelo Dlamini and killed her on June 18 at Klipgat outside Letlhabile.
The State alleges that Thwala, Moyo, Cynthia Mosopi and Victor Pilane kidnapped Dlamini at Eletsa High School in Letlhabile. Mosopi had accused Dlamini of dating her former boyfriend. The two women are accused of murdering her by dousing her with petrol and setting her alight.
The state is opposing the bail application.
Investigating officer, Constable Julius Nkgweng, told the court the community would harm the two suspects if they were granted bail.
He told the court that Thwala, Moyo and Mosopi beat Dlamini before she was burnt.
“Accused two (Moyo) drove them to the crime scene. Accused one (Thwala) and accused four (Mosopi) beat the deceased. At one stage accused one held her up and accused four poured petrol on the deceased,” Nkgweng said.
“Accused one ran away when she realised she too was going to burn because some of the petrol soaked her.”
He told the court he was in favour of bail being denied as the accused would not be safe if released.
Earlier during proceedings, Thwala told the court that Mosopi and Moyo had picked her up in Maboloka and they had driven to Eletsa High School in Letlhabile to meet Dlamini.
Upon arrival, Mosopi had called Dlamini over. Thwala said she had hugged Dlamini and they got into Moyo’s car and drove towards Rabokala.
They eventually landed up in a bushy area where Mosopi pulled Dlamini out of the car and slapped her, before pouring petrol over her head, Thwala testified.
Thwala said when she attempted to pull her away from Mosopi, petrol had also sprinkled over her.
She later saw Mosopi’s current boyfriend Victor Pilane recording a video of the incident with his cellphone. Thwala said she had asked him to help Dlamini, but when she turned the school girl was already engulfed in flames.
Mosopi ran to her boyfriend while Dlamini ran in the opposite direction.
She told the court they did not have water in their car, and there was no sand to douse the flames. Thwala and Moyo then drove to the police station in Letlhabile to report the incident.
Moyo also testified, recalling the incident in similar fashion to Thwala.
The bail application was postponed to Wednesday for a decision by the magistrate.
Mosopi was not in court as she was still recovering from her injuries in hospital. Victor Pilane was granted bail of R2,000 last week. He was expected to appear in court again on August 26.
Residents of Letlhabile picketed outside the court, demanding the two women be denied bail.
ANA