The aunt of slain Ditebogo Phalane Junior (5) had to restrain herself from striking the men police believe killed her nephew “because of the rules of court”.
The three accused appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where one continued with his bail application while the other two abandoned theirs.
During the lunch adjournment, as the accused — Elia Maeko (36), Ali Sithole (30) and Nido Gumbo (29) — made their way down the stairs to the holding cells, Phalane, who was sitting behind the dock, raised her hand as if to strike them before restraining herself.
I am hurt, says aunt
When Sunday World asked her why she wanted to strike the accused, Ntebaleng Phalane said: “I wanted to beat them because I feel very hurt. They want bail. All their family members are still alive, and they have children. They killed my brother’s child. They won’t bring him back. They killed him for a car, and now they want bail. I am hurt?
“When I see them, I am reminded of what happened when Ditebogo was killed. On 10 May 2025, it will be one year since he died. If I get a chance, I will beat them up and kill them. I could not beat them up (today) because of court rules. I had a lot of emotions. I had to control myself because of court rules.
“Court rules state that if you cause disorder in the courtroom, the police will chase you out. I had to control myself. If I get a chance, I will slap them. Our child should be in school now, but we are running in and out of court because of them. Our child is no longer alive. They killed him, and now they want bail so they can be with their families and children. I am really hurt…,” said Phalane.
The men are from neighbourhood
The men, all from Soshanguve South, face charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
They allegedly shot Ditebogo dead during a hijacking outside his Pretoria home on May 10 last year.
The child was shot as he ran to greet his father, who was arriving home.
Gumbe, a Mozambican national, is facing an additional charge for being in the country illegally.
During court proceedings on Tuesday, state prosecutor Tumelo Letaoane asked the investigating officer in the case, Sgt Sevhasa Mashudu, to continue with his testimony in opposition to Maeko’s bail application.
The men are represented by Thulani Kekana of Legal Aid SA.
Sixth sense
Mashudu told the court that before the murder, police were investigating a gang known as Task Team. He said the gang of five was believed to be responsible for a string of robberies and vehicle hijackings.
He said the gang had “terrorised” people in Mabopane, Soshanguve, Akasia and Rustenburg.
Mashudu said that when he was assigned to the Ditebogo investigation, he immediately knew the same gang was responsible.
He said Maeko, Sithole and Gumbo are part of the gang. Mashudu said police are still looking for the other two suspected gang members.
Mashudu said Maeko confessed to the crime in May last year, then led police to the scene where Ditebogo Phalane Senior’s Toyota Hilux GD6 bakkie was hijacked.
Magistrate Naseema Khan postponed the matter to May 28 and May 29 for Mashudu to complete his testimony.
