Ditebogo Phalane murder: One of the accused was out on bail for violent crimes
Elia Maeko, Ali Sithole and Nido Gumbo made their first court appearance for the crime on Tuesday.
Three of the four men arrested by police for the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Phalane appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrates Court on 28 May 2024. Picture: Kgomotso Modise/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - It has been revealed that one of the men accused of murdering five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane was out on bail for various violent crimes when he allegedly committed the deadly hijacking that claimed the child's life.
Elia Maeko, Ali Sithole and Nido Gumbo made their first court appearance for the crime on Tuesday.
They have been charged with murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
ALSO READ: Three men charged with the murder of Ditebogo Phalane abandon bail
JUST IN: 3 of the 4 men arrested by police over the last few weeks have officially been charged for the murder of 5 year old #DitebogoPhalane. They are appearing in the Pretoria North Magistrates court. @motso_modise pic.twitter.com/XCmVKHcBMv
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 28, 2024
Gumbo, a Mozambican national, has also been charged with being in the country illegally.
One of the points flagged by State prosecutor, Tumelo Letaoane, was that the second accused, Ali Sithole, lied about all the pending cases against him.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Lumka Mahanjana has clarified the pending charges against him.
"So accused number two has pending matters at Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates Court, where he is facing a charge of attempted murder, possession of firearm, possession of ammunition and robbery with aggravating circumstances."
However, despite the State's records, Sithole insisted he had only one pending charge in Ga-Rankuwa.
The State has asked for a lengthy postponement to August to allow for further investigations, including the post-mortem results and further statements.