This after the trial was postponed on 7 September to allow the suspect and ex-husband of Folotsi, MacKenzie Ratselane, to acquire the services of a legal aid lawyer following financial constraints. Ratselane, who has been in custody since his arrest in February 2021, has now changed lawyers for at least the third time. He was arrested on 16 February 2021 at an informal settlement in Ennerdale, Gauteng, after he was on the run for six days following the brutal attack on Folotsi. She suffered stab wounds to her body, including her chest, face, and her tongue. Ratselane is yet to plea and also faces charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH).

It's alleged that Ratselane stabbed Folotsi in February in Bloemfontein, where she was later found lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds around the Caleb Motshabi informal settlement. Ratselane and Folotsi allegedly quarrelled on their way to fetch their children in phase 2.

The accused previously told the court that he was willing to plead guilty to other charges except for the attempted murder of his ex-wife. Folotsi was found bloodied and stabbed multiple times in Caleb Motshabi in Bloemfontein by residents who then alerted the police. 

Ratselane, a former police officer, previously abandoned bail during his second court appearance in February 2021 but made a sudden about-turn a few months later.

During his bail attempt, Ratselane told the court that he did not flee from the might of law nor try to evade his arrest. He said he simply left for Gauteng to seek counsel from his elders to fix what he termed as marital issues with Folotsi.

Meanwhile, political parties, including the EFF and ANC, are expected to attend the proceedings, protesting against gender-based violence (GBV). The two parties have been holding pickets outside the magistrate's court premises since the start of the case this year. They have demanded that the accused be served with a hefty sentence for this alleged crime against him.

UPDATE: The trial was yet again postponed for further consultation with the new lawyer. The trial is now set to resume once again on 30 September 2021.

OFM News