Man remanded over murder of lover's daughter

Lebogang Mosikare
Correspondent | Thursday March 21, 2013 00:00

Mokganedi Pontsho (35) is jointly charged with his girlfriend Kgomotso Mondela (35) for allgedly killing 8-year old Tumelo Mondela between October 14, 2012 and December 1, 2012 at Senganeng cattle post. The state alleges that after the murder, the accused chopped her body into pieces and buried them in a shallow grave. The two applied for bail before Magistrate Mpho Molema on Tuesday.

However, prosecutor Paul Chaluza argued that Pontsho could interfere with police investigations if released on bail. Chaluza said he would have the forensic report at the next mention.'If the results of the forensic report come out and do not match those of the deceased, we fear that Pontsho may interfere with our investigations if granted bail,' he said. The prosecutor informed the magistrate that Mondela now lived at a women's shelter in Maun. In her last mention, the state applied for the separation of the two as Mondela had claimed that Pontsho was abusing her.

In another matter, a Tonota man has also appeared in court to answer a charge of murder. The state alleges that 28-year-old Caiphus Mmokwa who works as a groundsman at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown, stabbed Onneile Dipateletso on January 14, 2012 at Semotswane settlement near Tonota. Dipateletso died of knife wounds on February 27, 2012. Prosecutor Careb Mbenda told the court that they were still waiting for a reply from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concerning the matter following the change of circumstances.

Mbenda informed the court that the accused was already out on bail and asked that he appear in court again on May 2 for mention.In another matter, a 52-year old woman of Tonota has appeared in court for allegedly killing Onneile Radipitse at Lephaneng Ward in the same village on May 29, 2012. Sephaeya Masekamela was initially charged with Mareledi Ramojadi (37) for the same offence.However, prosecutor Chaluza told the court that Ramojadi had since died. Chaluza told the court that they were still waiting for a forensic report in the matter and explained that results were often delayed due to shortage of chemicals at police laboratories. He applied for the accused, who is out on bail, to appear for mention on May 8.