Elisha Molefe

"We wish you a merry Christmas and happy New Year in the cells."

This "Christmas carol" was sung by supporters of the late Chief Israel Motshegare after his alleged killers were denied bail for the tenth time in the Mmabatho magistrates' court yesterday.

Motshegare, 62, was gunned down on November 21 last year at his home at Lokaleng Village, 30km west of Mafikeng, in North West.

France Mosweu, 49, Thabo Moleleki, 30, Patrick Moleleki, 28, and Michael Molamu, 31, were arrested and charged with murder.

Magistrate Philemon Sere said he was denying bail to the accused because the first accused, Mosweu, is a citizen of both Botswana and South Africa.

Two more people were arrested after a gun, believed to be the murder weapon, was found at the kraal of one of the accused last month.

During yesterday's court proceedings there was an exchange of words between the widow of the late chief and a court orderly when he ordered that one of the deceased's children had to leave because she was too young to be allowed into the courtroom.

The proceedings went ahead in her presence.

The accused were remanded back into custody until January 4 in order to give the investigating officers time to investigate further.