One of the three accused in the murder case of five-year-old Ditebogo Phalane Junior sold the canopy of his father’s hijacked Toyota Hilux GD6 bakkie for R3 000.
This information was revealed by the investigating officer in the murder case.
Sgt Sevhasa Mashudu, the investigating officer in the case, was continuing with his testimony at the Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday during the bail application of one of the three accused.
The three accused, Elia Maeko, 36, Ali Sithole, 30, and Nido Gumbo, 29, appeared at the said court on Tuesday.
Bail application
Maeko was continuing with his bail application. Sithole and Gumbe have abandoned their bail applications.
The three accused, who are all from Soshanguve South, are facing a charge of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Gumbe, who is a Mozambican national, is facing a charge of being in the country illegally.
They are charged in connection with the murder of Ditebogo Phalane Junior. The child was shot and killed in May last year during a hijacking at his Soshanguve home in Pretoria.
The incident happened on the evening of May 10 2024. Ditebogo was running up to his father, who had just returned home, when armed men shot and killed him.
During court proceedings on Tuesday, state prosecutor Tumelo Letaoane asked Mashudu to continue with his testimony. The testimony is meant to oppose Maeko’s bail application.
Maeko is represented by Thulani Kekana from Legal Aid SA.
Made confession upon arrest
Mashudu said after Maeko was arrested in May last year, he made a confession to the police.
“He [Maeko] travelled with the police and pointed out where the car was hijacked. Then he accompanied the police where he sold the canopy. He gave the police the receipt given to him after selling the canopy. And he sold the canopy for R3000,” said Mashudu.
He said when police went to the place where the canopy was sold, they discovered that the canopy was still there. They took it and kept it as evidence for the case.
Mashudu told the court that before Ditebogo’s murder, police were investigating a gang known as Task Team. It is a gang of five people responsible for robbing and hijacking people of their vehicles.
He said the gang “terrorised” people who lived in areas such as Mabopane, Soshanguve, Akasia and Rustenburg.
Gang responsible for the murder
Mashudu said when he was assigned to Ditebogo’s case, he knew the same gang was responsible for the crime.
He said Maeko, Sithole and Gumbo are part of the gang. Mashudu said police are still looking for the other two suspects who are part of the gang.
Magistrate Naseema Khan postponed the matter to May 28 and 29. This is for continuation of Mashudu’s testimony in Maeko’s bail application.
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