A 74-year-old fisherman, Mathata Moengwe, accused of the fatal shooting of his counterpart, will appear before the Maun Magistrate’s Court again on 15th September 2026 for a status hearing.
Last Friday, the accused was denied bail after the state submitted that it needed time to complete investigations. The prosecution pleaded that the accused be remanded in custody to maintain social order and for his own safety.
Moengwe is alleged to have shot and killed 42-year-old Tsholofelo Mohuhutso with a pellet gun on 24th August 2026 at or near Tsanekona in Maun, after accusing him of stealing his fishing net.
The court heard that a 27-year-old woman reported that while she was at her workplace on the same day at around 1600 hours, she heard someone screaming.
She went outside to see what was happening and reportedly saw the accused pointing a pellet gun at the deceased and hitting him on the body with an iron rod. As she moved closer, pleading with Moengwe to stop beating Mohuhutso, the accused reportedly loaded the pellet gun and shot the victim. The elderly man is reported to have thereafter boarded a canoe and paddled away.
The victim, who suffered injuries to his face, hands, and legs, was rushed to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital where he later died. Moengwe reportedly went to the police station himself to confess to the offence.
The matter has been adjourned to 15th September 2026 for a status hearing.
Meanwhile, the Maun Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to Freddy Lephojane, the fourth person accused in a robbery of Chinese nationals committed on August 5, 2026.
Lephojane, a 31-year-old resident of Boseja Ward in Maun, secured his release last Friday following his arraignment in connection with the matter.
Lephojane and co-accused Donald Sibanda, Lyghton Nembaware, and Bonnie Secha are alleged to have acted together with a common purpose, armed with a machete, to rob Lin Ke and two other Chinese citizens.
They allegedly tied them with cable ties and stole P375,800.00 cash and property worth P460,600.00.
The stolen items include a Chinese bank card, an iPhone 14 valued at P10,000.00, an iPhone 14 Pro valued at P12,000.00, two Huawei Mate 60 phones valued at P14,000.00, a Huawei Mate 30 Pro valued at P12,000.00, a Vivo X200 Pro valued at P10,000.00, a hard drive valued at P2,000.00, and an iFLYTEK Pad valued at P5,600.00.
Meanwhile, the state did not object to Lephojane being granted bail, as it did not want the accused to meet with the other co-accused in prison, fearing this could jeopardise investigations. The investigating officer told the court that the accused person had provided all the information required from him.
This occurred as Chief Magistrate Reuben Sebetlela questioned why the state wanted Lephojane released while his co-accused remained in prison.
However, the accused’s attorney also told the court that his client’s involvement in the matter was minimal compared to those currently remanded.
Subsequently, Lephojane was ordered to bind himself with P1,000.00 and provide two sureties who shall also bind themselves with P1,000.00 each.
