Two suspects, Sekwetja Mahlamba and Sekola Matlaletsa, briefly appeared before the Senekal Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of murder and robbery. According to the defence advocate, Machini Motloung, the state has on Thursday informed the court that the analysis of the DNA results extracted from the trousers of the accused has finally been completed. The results are set to be revealed at the next court appearance in June 2021. The murder case will then head to the Bethlehem Circuit Court of the Free State High Court. 

The case against these two men, who are still in custody, has previously been hampered by the constant postponements due to the unavailability of the DNA results following a backlog at the national forensic laboratory.

At the next court appearance on 4 June 2021, the state is set to furnish the court with a docket, indictment, and the DNA results. 

According to the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) provincial spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, a date for the pre-trial in the High Court will then be set.

OFM News