McKenzie Ratselane's new legal counsel on Tuesday informed the Regional Court that he wants to plead guilty to charges of assault, kidnapping, the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and not to that of attempted murder. 

They argued that if McKenzie wanted to kill Dimakatso, he could have done so as he had a firearm in his vehicle when he stabbed her multiple times with a knife in Bloemfontein in February. 

McKenzie made his first appearance in courtroom 16 after his matter was previously postponed for a possible plea deal.  

McKenzie Ratselane’s new legal counsel requested the court to grant his client a postponement to iron out some of the issues with the state. He informed the court that he only took over the reins in the matter on Wednesday last week. 

It is alleged that McKenzie would have pled guilty on Tuesday on charges, including attempted murder, assault, and kidnapping, amongst others. His new counsel, however, said McKenzie would like to make a deal with the state to drop the attempted murder charge. 

The Magistrate postponed the case to Wednesday 19 May 2021 to allow time for negotiations between the two parties.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Kekekletso Mosebetsi