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More equal than other prisoners

08 SEPTEMBER 2009 TUESDAY: NO HIDING: Inspector Frank Lebepe is escorting Patricia Mphahlele, ANC councillor in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality in Limpopo who appeared briefly at Lebowakgomo Magistrate court for allegedly hiring four hitmen to kill her ex-boyfriend. PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA
08 SEPTEMBER 2009 TUESDAY: NO HIDING: Inspector Frank Lebepe is escorting Patricia Mphahlele, ANC councillor in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality in Limpopo who appeared briefly at Lebowakgomo Magistrate court for allegedly hiring four hitmen to kill her ex-boyfriend. PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA

Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

THE ANC councillor accused of plotting the murder of her estranged boyfriend yesterday received "favourable treatment" from the police at Lebowakgomo.

Ramaredi Patricia Mphahlele, a ward 20 councillor in the Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality in Limpopo, was arrested on Sunday for the murder of Manale Motebejane.

She was appearing in the Thabamoopo magistrate's court yesterday. But instead of being ferried in a police van with other suspects to court, Mphahlele was shuttled alone to the court buildings in a luxury police minibus.

This writer was present when Mphahlele was dropped off in the parking area.

She was allowed to walk unguarded towards the relatively quiet court buildings, save for the scanning machine at the entrance, which kept security guards and visitors busy. Asked about the "special treatment", Lebowakgomo police spokesperson Inspector Manong Tshehla said it was because Mphahlele was the only female inmate and they feared for her safety.

Her case was postponed to September 16 for bail application.

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