18-year-old in court for alleged murder of his brother

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An 18-year-old male appeared in the Vereeniging Magistrates’ Court Tuesday on a charge of murder of his younger sibling.

The teen from Orange Farm is alleged to have poisoned his three-year-old brother.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, on 31 January at around 11:00, the child’s mother was at home with the accused and her other two sons, aged 16 and 22, when she noticed that her youngest son was missing.

Mahanjana said assuming he was playing at a neighbour’s house, she did not raise the immediate alarm. Adding that, however, by 13:00, when the child had still not returned, she started searching for him.

“At approximately 16:00, the 16-year-old brother went to a nearby veld near the N1 highway to feed his goats when he saw the accused placing the child’s body inside a dustbin.

“After confronting him, the brother took the dustbin containing the child body to their home and informed their mother. Emergency services were called, and the child was declared dead at the scene. she explained.

Mahanjana stated that the following day, the 18-year-old accused handed himself over to the police, allegedly confessing to poisoning his brother with rat poison.

The matter was postponed to February 13 for a formal bail application.

Mogaila’s culpable homicide court case postponed

Meanwhile, the culpable homicide case against footballer, Mokete Sean Mogaila has postponed until May 19 at the Tembisa magistrates’ court.

The 29-year-old surrendered himself to the police following an alleged reckless driving incident.

The crash which occurred on Andrew Mapheto Road, in Tembisa, during the early hours of 30 October 2024, tragically claimed the life of 9-year-old, Gomolemo Mavimbela. 

NPA regional spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane said the state alleges that, on the aforementioned date, Mogaila’s vehicle veered into the opposite lane and collided with another vehicle carrying a woman and two minor children.

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“Tragically, the nine-year-old lost her life, while the mother and 13-year-old boy were severely injured in the accident. The police found what is alleged to be alcohol bottles and drugs in Mogaila’s vehicle after the accident.

“Initially, Mogaila fled the scene but later on that day handed himself to the authorities, where he was charged with reckless driving, fleeing the scene of the accident and culpable homicide.

The case has been postponed for further investigations, amongst others, is the outcome of the post-mortem examination. His bail has been extended until his next court appearance,” she remarked.