Trial for rape and murder suspect resumes

By Staff Reporter

PAUL ROUX- The trial  of Isaac Mthenjwa Magagula 33, from Fateng tse Ntso near Paul Roux  who is charged of rape and murder   will resume on March 14 to 25 , 2022, in the high court sitting in Ficksburg magistrate court.

Magagula  who remain in custody after he abandoned his bail application is alleged to have raped and murdered the -77-year old woman  by straggling her while she was staying at Paul Roux old age home on July 2021.

According to police spokesperson in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region Warrant officer Mmako Mophiring, the deceased was attacked by the accused in her room  who allegedly assaulted, raped and strangled her until she became unconscious.

“He took the stove , groceries and clothes of the pensioner  and left the scene. She was admitted at a local hospital where she later lost her life. The postmodern was conducted and rape and murder have since been confirmed,” said Mophiring in a statement.

The accused made several appearance in court and abandoned his bail . The attempted house breaking and robbery have been added to his charges.

The case is being investigated by Bethlehem family ,child and protection and sexual offence unit.

Meanwhile, in Kestell a -24-year old man , William Mofokeng from Ha Nchabeng village in Qwaqwa, who is   accused of rape and murder of a minor has been remanded  in custody on March 2, 2022 until  his next appearance in Kestell court on March 30.

The suspect was traced at Ha Nchabeng in QwaQwa where he was finally arrested following a lengthy search by police.

The team consisting of the Phuthaditjhaba family ,child protection and sexual offences unit and crime intelligence unit  got  a  tip off that led to his arrest. The lifeless body of a seven year old  minor was recovered from Phahameng section in the Tlholong township near Kestell.

The minor went missing on September 18,2021. She was last seen accompanying her friend of the same age and her friend alleged that they met a certain known man in the area who gave her five rands and asked her to walk with him.

She  did not return home and the man  could not be traced as police and community looked all over for him.