Tebogo Monama

Tebogo Monama

Lucky Lekgwathi, pictured, might be out of jail, but it seems he might not be out of trouble yet. Yesterday there was confusion about whether the robbery charges against him had been dropped or not.

The former Orlando Pirates skipper was released from the Johannesburg Central police station on Saturday, but police deny knowledge of this.

Police spokesman Chris Wilken said Lekgwathi could not have been released before appearing in court.

Wilken also dismissed a suggestion by Lekgwathi's lawyer that the charges had been dropped.

"There's no way the case can be scrapped before going to court," said Wilken, who said that police investigations were continuing.

Earlier Orlando Pirates lawyer Grant Herholdt told Sowetan: "The prosecutor reviewed the matter and realised there was not enough information to prosecute."

Herholdt said the charges against Lekgwathi were fictitious.

Lekgwathi, 31, was arrested on Friday in Riverlea on charges of robbery. It is alleged that he and his accomplice, Thapelo Mojela, robbed a 22-year-old man of his wallet, R140 and a cellphone at knife-point.

The two then allegedly ripped up the victim's leather jacket.

Lekgwathi has denied the allegations. "I was cleaning my yard on Thursday afternoon with five friends when a suspicious looking guy walked past," he said yesterday.

"We asked him what he was looking for and he swore at us."

Lekgwathi said they then looked into the man's bag and found a knife, cigarettes and a lighter.

"We took the knife away," he said.

Mickey Modisane, spokesman for Orlando Pirates, said: "It is clear that Lucky did not commit any offence. It is totally uncalled for that he spent the night in jail."