Sekhukhune United football club says it will not comment on the return to the pitch of speedy winger Shaune Mogaila, who is facing culpable homicide charges after he was involved in a car crash that claimed the life of a nine-year-old girl.
Mogaila played an influential role in the club’s 4-2 demolition of AmaZulu in a Betway Premiership match on Wednesday night at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, after more than three months out of action.
Sekhukhune United spokesperson Tebogo Mapinga declined to comment about Mogaila’s return to the pitch. He stated that the media statement that the club released in November last year still holds, and nothing changes.
Matter is before court
In the statement, the club said it will not comment on Mogaila’s October 30 2024 car crash. Reasons given were that the matter is before court.
Sunday World exclusively reported last November that Sekhukhune United took a decision that Mogaila must not play for the club nor train with the first team until his case is finalised. Sekhukhune declined to comment on this.
Mogaila played the full 90 minutes in the match against AmaZulu. He provided an assist for the club’s first goal in the match.
The last time Mogaila played for Sekhukhune United prior to the car crash was on October 29 2024. This was when the club played a Premiership league game against Chippa United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Sekhukhune won the match 2-0.
During the post-match press conference after the AmaZulu match, Sekhukhune United coach Lehlohonolo Seema explained the decision to play Mogaila.
Unfortunate incident
“He is a player that has been registered to us. And he has an unfortunate incident that happened, and the team gave him support and time to deal with it. But now he is back, and we are happy with the first game after a long time. We are happy with the contribution that he made. And he is the player that we know.
“The only thing that we are doing is that we put that behind our back. And then we try to give him support so that he can continue working for the team. The team has been supporting him. You can see the way he is playing. It was very unfortunate, it can happen to any one of us. But he needed support, he needed time, which he was given,” said Seema.
“Now it is time for him to go back and then try to also clear his mind with something that he is doing and let us see. I am happy with the performance after a long time the way he came,” said Seema.
Second court appearance
Meanwhile, Mogaila made his second court appearance at the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court two weeks ago. He is facing charges of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving, and failure to render assistance during an accident (fleeing the scene of the accident).
The charges stem from the car crash that killed a nine-year-old girl and injured two more people. This happened in October last year in Tembisa, east of Johannesburg.
The court postponed the matter to May 19 for further investigations. These include allowing the state to obtain the post-mortem report and J88 medical reports.
On the morning of October 30, Mogaila’s black BMW car smashed into the red Hyundai i10 driven by Keo Mavimbela on Andrew Mapheto Drive in Tembisa.
Mavimbela’s nine-year-old daughter Gomolemo died at the scene. Keo and their neighbour’s 14-year-old son survived the crash with serious injuries.
Still recovering from the accident injuries
They were taken to the hospital for medical treatment and discharged in December last year. Both Mavimbela and the son are currently recovering at their homes in Tembisa, while walking on crutches.
On the morning of the crash, Mavimbela was transporting Gomolemo and their neighbour’s 14-year-old son to Edleen Primary School in Kempton Park.
Gomolemo was doing Grade 4 at the school.
Mogaila had later handed himself over to the police after he fled from the scene of the crash. Police found four bottles of Don Julio alcohol, a powder they suspect to be cocaine, and weed edibles, in Mogaila’s car.
Mogaila was granted R20, 000 bail by the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court during his first court appearance in November last year.
