Thoriso Themane (File/Twitter)
- One of the minors accused in the Thoriso Themane case has died.
- Eight other minors accused and two adult co-accused Alfred Mothapo, 36, and Chuene Maleka, 37, appeared in court on Monday.
- The case was postponed to next month as the legal representatives of two of the accused requested information from the State.
The Limpopo High Court was told on Thursday that one of the nine minors accused of the brutal murder of Thoriso Themane has since died.
A death certificate was handed to the court, confirming the child’s death. He was accused number two. No further details were provided around his death.
The remaining eight accused, whose ages range from 13 to 16, appeared together with their two adult co-accused – Alfred Mothapo, 36, and Chuene Maleka, 37.
The case, which was held behind closed doors because it involved children, was postponed until 6 July.
READ | Thoriso Themane murder trial to head to Limpopo High Court
National Prosecuting Authority provincial spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi told News24 outside court: “The case was postponed because the legal representatives of accused number 6 and 7 (who are minors) requested the State to furnish them with certain information.
“Due to the involvement of the minor accused, the trial is to be held in camera.”
Themane was attacked on 23 February 2019 in Polokwane. Footage of the fatal attack went viral on social media and led to protests in the city.
During the bail application in March last year, Mothapo told the court in a written statement that he had been with Maleka, visiting a friend in another section of Polokwane, when he received a distress call from his wife about an intruder at home.
On arrival, the “intruder”, who turned out to be Themane, had already left. He was later cornered at a local park, and looked disoriented and was bleeding.
READ | Thoriso Themane murder: Case of 9 minors and 2 adults ready for trial
At that time, several minors arrived and demanded a cellphone which they claimed the ” intruder” had stolen from one of them.
Mothapo then called the police who did not respond. The minors took the “intruder” away with them.
Themane succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day.
All the accused are out on bail.
