The family of the late Kagisho “Lastborn” Diraditsile, 33, expressed disappointment in the judicial system and the Galeshewe police after the suspect who was arrested for fatally stabbing their loved one on Sunday, walked out of court a free man.
THE FAMILY of the late Kagisho “Lastborn” Diraditsile, 33, expressed disappointment in the judicial system and the Galeshewe police after the suspect who was arrested for fatally stabbing their loved one on Sunday, walked out of the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court a free man on Tuesday.
Diraditsile was fatally stabbed in Nobengula Street in Galeshewe on Sunday morning, allegedly by a man who is well known to the victim’s family.
A suspect, Modise Lekwene, 24, was arrested in connection with the murder and appeared in court on Tuesday.
Lekwene was rescued from an angry mob on Sunday by a community watch group, who reportedly dispatched a search party immediately after the murder.
Diraditsile’s family said they were shocked to learn that the case was struck off the roll.
The family members disputed reports that Diraditsile was murdered over a garden tool. They believe that there is more to the incident than meets the eye.
They described Diraditsile as a quiet person, although he could be outspoken on matters that were important to him.
He was supposed to celebrate his birthday on July 13.
Diraditsile’s young sister, Karabo Siyoko, said she was woken by someone on Sunday, around 11am, who told her to go and check on her brother who was lying on the front doorstep.
“I found him lying face down with blood on his neck. When we turned him he tried to speak but could not utter anything. I put him down and went to call the adults. On our return to check on him, he was quiet and not responding,” said Siyoko.
Diraditsile’s uncle, Andrew Thebe, expressed how upset and disappointed the family was to learn that the murder suspect was released, while they were “busy running around making funeral arrangements”.
“We were hoping for the investigating officer to at least keep us informed, given what has happened to the family. The last time he came to us was on Monday, the day after the murder. He told us to help with the investigation and thus gave us his contact numbers. He also informed us that the suspect will be appearing in court on Tuesday.
“He did not even mention a possibility that the case might be struck off the roll.
“We could not go to court because we were busy with the funeral arrangements.”
The chairperson of the neighbourhood watch group in Club 2000 and Soul City, Tumelo Frans, also expressed disappointment.
“It is so disappointing that when the community stands up to assist the police, this happens. We were the ones who went to look for the suspect and found him. We are the ones who called for calm when the community started assaulting the suspect while the police ran away from the scene. The police officer only came to start the vehicle and remove the suspect from the mob after we put him in the van.
“After so much effort, the law throws it in our faces,” said Frans.
