Alleged killers of initiate appear in Potchefstroom court

The trial of an initiation school principal and five of his assistants accused of killing an initiate was adjourned in the Potchefstroom Regional Court on Tuesday.

The six men appeared briefly on charges of allegedly killing an initiate last year.

Mokhele Rankobobo‚ 33‚ Itumeleng Lengana‚ 27‚ Themba Kom‚ 24‚ Thabiso Mkhosi‚ 23 and Tsietsi Phethwe‚ 31‚ allegedly assaulted Pusetso Lucky Mothupi‚ 17‚ at an initiation school outside Ikageng in June last year.

Mothupi disappeared from his Ikageng home in Potchefstroom on June 19 last year and was found dead on July 8.

He was allegedly assaulted to death‚ according to his father‚ Thabang Shoai.

Police raided the school on July 8 2015 and found Mothupi dead‚ while 37 other initiates were in a bad state of health.

 Shoai said their children appeared abnormal.

 “I warned Mokhele about taking my son to the mountain because we don’t practice such culture at my home. On the day he disappeared‚ Mokhele phoned his mother (Lillian Mothupi) that our son was at his mountain school. We went there and fetched him the following day with his cousin Itumeleng.

“I asked them what had happened and if they were harmed in any way. They just stared at us. They looked dazed‚ like they were under a spell. The principal threatened that if we take them back‚ they would cause problems at home and flee back to the mountain.”

 The boys were taken home and locked in overnight.

 However‚ they were discovered missing in the morning. Mokhele was remanded in custody while bail of R1‚000 each for Lengana‚ Kom‚ Mkhosi and Phethwe was extended.

 The six are expected back in court on October 18.