The 59-year-old Joseph Modime and his accomplice, the 54-year-old Emily Mashaba, is expected to re-appear on 16 February 2022 before the Zeerust Magistrate's Court. 

The NPA spokesperson for the North West province, Henry Mamothame, says both suspects received bail of R1 500 following the postponement of their court appearance for further investigations. Mamothame says following the verification of their addresses, the court granted them bail under strict conditions that they should refrain from interacting with state witnesses, they should avail themselves on their next court appearance but failure to do so will result in a warrant of arrest being issued against them. 

The suspects' arrest came after they were caught in possession of a lion’s head. They were arrested on 9 December 2021.

The Hawks reported that the two suspects were travelling from Tembisa in Johannesburg seeking a traditional healer to sell the lion’s head to for an amount of R350 000. The report further indicated that this sale was intercepted by a police agent who arranged a traditional healer, leading to the arrest of the two at a petrol station in Zeerust. A lion’s head was found in their possession, wrapped in refuse bags. Further investigations are underway since they seized the lion’s head from the suspects.

OFM News