The chances are high that the man accused of raping and murdering 11-year-old Relebogibe Segami could walk free from court on August 30 if outstanding DNA sample results are not released by then.
THE CHANCES are high that the man accused of raping and murdering 11-year-old Relebogibe Segami could walk free from court on August 30 if outstanding DNA sample results are not released by then.
Magistrate Jerry Tsatsimpe ruled on Friday that the court would apply Section 324A on August 30 if all four DNA sample results are not yet released on the specified date.
Itumeleng Machabe made a brief appearance before the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court on Friday where he was expected to apply for bail.
Machabe was charged with the rape and murder of 11-year-old Relebogile, whose naked body was found dumped in the veld behind the Northern Cape legislature on March 31.
He was also charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl.
On Friday, the court proceedings experienced an unexpected delay, which caused panic and uncertainty among community members who were picketing outside the court building.
Machabe’s legal representative, Chwaro Kgotlagomang, was not present and instead sent someone else to stand in for him.
A rumour spread that the delays in the proceedings were caused by the fact that Kgotlagomang was nowhere to be found, while his client was waiting on him in the court holding cells.
It was revealed in court that four DNA samples were sent to the lab, to demonstrate whether the accused is linked to the commission of the offence.
Only one of the DNA results has been released and does not match the accused.
The court is still awaiting the results of the three other DNA samples to be analysed.
The bail application was thus postponed due to the pending DNA results.
The implementation of Section 324A means that the case will be struck off the roll. Should new evidence be found to link the accused to the commission of the crime then the accused can be re-arrested.
Magistrate Tsatsimpe ruled that Section 324A be implemented if the DNA results are not yet released by 30 August 30.
The community members meanwhile said that they will continue their efforts to oppose bail for the accused.
They marched from the Galeshewe circle to the magistrate’s court on Friday. Their intention was to hand over a petition to the prosecutor if the accused was applying for bail.
They intend to hold another march from the Galeshewe circle to the Galeshewe police station soon to hand over a memorandum of their grievances with regards to gender-based violence.
They want the memorandum to be forwarded to the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele.
A concerned community member, Herbert Miller, urged all community members who were affected by gender-based violence to support the initiative.
