Men accused of killing Ditebogo Phalane shouldn’t be allowed back into society, says family
The five-year-old was shot in a botched hijacking outside his Soshanguve home in May.
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 27 August 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - A spokesperson for Ditebogo Phalane's family said the men accused of killing the five-year-old shouldn't be allowed back into the community.
Ditebogo was shot in a botched hijacking outside his Soshanguve home in May.
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The three men who were subsequently arrested and charged with his murder made their second appearance in the Pretoria North Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Gift Makoti spoke of the toll that the court process was taking on them.
"Obviously, coming back to court after a short stint or few months, you obviously get emotions getting evoked again with the reminder of seeing the accused."
After initially abandoning bail, the court heard on Tuesday that the accused were now intending to apply for bail and that the State would be opposing, something Makoti said they supported.
"We’re happy to hear they're going to be opposing bail simply because we feel like people like this should not be let back into society after such a heinous crime."
The bail application is set down for hearing on 5 September.