The three men arrested and charged with the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Phalane Junior have abandoned their bail application at the Pretoria North magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Elia Moeko, 36, Ali Sithole, 30, and Nido Gumbe, 29, all from Soshanguve South, made a brief appearance at the Pretoria North magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
All the three suspects are facing a charge of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances for the murder of Ditebogo.
Ditebogo was shot and killed three weeks ago during a hijacking at his Soshanguve home.
The boy was running up to his father, who had just returned home, when armed men shot and killed him.
Additional charges under Immigration Act
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana confirmed the matter. She said Gumbe, who is a Mozambican national, is facing and additional charge of being in the country illegally.
“It is alleged that on May 10 2024, the three shot and killed a five-year-old boy, Ditebogo Phalane Junior. [This happened when] they were robbing his father, Tebogo Phalane, of his vehicle. Investigations were carried by the Directorate of Priority Crime Detection (DPP) led by Major General Khumalo. [Following this], the three were arrested at Pretoria Moot Police Station on May 23 2024. They were kept in custody for other unrelated charges. In court, the three abandoned their bail application. They also disclosed to the court that they had pending cases,” said Mahanjana.
Mahanjana said Moeko has a pending case of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of unlicensed ammunition. Sithole has a pending case at Ga-Rankuwa magistrates’ court. He will appear on June 28 2024, where he is facing charges of possession of a firearm. He also faces charges of possession of ammunition and attempted murder. Robbery with aggravating circumstances are also on the charge sheet.
Mahanjana said Sithole also has a pending case at Atteridgeville magistrates’ court. Here he is facing charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition.
Suspects face more charges unrelated to the case
Furthermore, Mahanjana said Gumbe also has a pending case at Atteridgeville magistrates’ court. He is facing charges of possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition.
Sithole and Gumbe were arrested last week for charges unrelated to the murder of Ditebogo.
Moeko was arrested two weeks ago for charges unrelated to the murder of Ditebogo.
At this stage, Mahanjana said Moeko, Sithole and Gumbe are linked and charged with the murder of Ditebogo. They are also charged with the robbery of his father’s vehicle.
Mahanjana said the possibility exists of more suspects being charged with the murder of the five-year-old.
She said the matter was postponed to August 27, 2024 for further investigations. Also for a decision by the DPP.
Ditebogo Phalane Junior was laid to rest in Soshanguve two weeks ago.
