The long anticipated trial has been postponed to 10 May 2022. This after Judge Pitso Molitsoane on Friday granted and acquitted two of the seven accused who applied for their acquittal, on all charges including murder, conspiracy to murder, and perjury. This means the suspects who were denied acquittal will now have to enter the witness box and testify to charges against them. 

Eight men stood trial for the murder of Siemens, who was gunned down in broad day light on 10 May 2018 inside the basement parking lot of Preller Square. The number has now been trimmed down to six after two of the accused were acquitted of all charges on Friday.

Also read: #PrellerSquareShooting case postponed to 2022

Seven of the eight accused applied to be discharged after the State Prosecutor, Adv. Johan de Nysschen, finalised the state's case in January 2022.

Judge Molitsoane denied to discharge five of the accused, including alleged murder mastermind Stanley Bakili, police detective Molebatsi Mogoera, disbarred advocate Karabo Tau, and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) employee Clive Tshivenga. One of the accused and a repeat offender who is serving a sentence on a separate case, Mojalefa Molosi, elected not to apply for acquittal. Judge Molitsoane maintains that the accused have a case to answer to in light of evidence presented against them.

Judge Molitsoane said although the state's star witness and self-confessed killer Xolisile Botha Mbebetho's testimony changed a lot, that fact was limited in the matter. Ten men have been arrested for allegedly playing various direct and indirect roles in orchestrating and carrying out the murder. Eight accused stood trial while the others have turned state witnesses.

Since the trial started on 28 October 2019, 41  people took the stand, including high-profile government officials such as Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, the Free State Health HOD David Motau, and former provincial Health MEC Benny Malakoane.

They denied having any involvement or knowledge of bribes being paid by accused number one, Stanley Bakili, on behalf of the deceased for the amendment of CityMed’s hospital licenses to allow for more beds. 81 documents have been submitted in court as exhibits.

OFM News