During court proceedings at the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Tuesday 7 September, it was revealed that Folotsi’s ex-husband, McKenzie Ratselane, can no longer afford his private legal counsel and has as a result opted for representation by legal aid. The postponement is to enable legal aid to acquaint themselves with the case and the indictment. 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State was present outside the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in support of the Lesedi FM presenter. The EFF’s councillor in the Mangaung Metro, Vicki Mampe-Motloung, tells OFM News that they are unhappy with the postponement.

Mampe-Motloung says the state needs to expedite the trial so that Folotsi can get some closure. She laments that if the case drags on any further, it only worsens the victim’s trauma.

Ratselane – a former police officer – is facing kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder charges in connection with the stabbing of his ex-wife in February 2021.

Folotsi was found bloodied and stabbed multiple times in the Caleb Motshabi informal settlement outside Bloemfontein by residents who then alerted the police. The former police officer had left her for dead and fled to Ennerdale in Gauteng where he was found six days after the incident.

Ratselane had previously abandoned bail during his second court appearance but made a sudden about-turn a few months later. During his bail attempt, Ratselane told the court that he did not 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 the victim.

The court denied his renewed bail application in August 2021.

OFM News