Notorious siblings, Gobonaone Motlotlegi and Kitsiso Motlotlegi, well known in Francistown for breaking into motor vehicles and stealing valuables items, were this week denied bail over fear for their safety.
This as the outraged members of public were planning to attack them in mob justice. Following some social media posts calling for their apprehension, the brothers relocated from Francistown to the outskirt village of Borolong, planning to move to Letlhakane. Before they could escape the wrath of the mob and start a new life in the mining town, the blue boys arrested them.
When denying the two accused persons bail, Francistown Principal Magistrate Tshepo Magetse had this to say, “they attributed their movements to fear of community backlash prompted by social media posts. The second accused candidly admitted awareness of public outrage over the granting of bail and expressed concern that they may be attacked if released.”
The court also observed via a post viewed on the court orderly’s phone, that numerous residents commented publicly on their willingness to track down the accused, with some alleging prior victimization.
Magetse expressed a troubling and increasing pattern of the Motlotlegi brothers being assaulted by members of the community during or following their arrest.
“In this court, accused persons have appeared on more than one occasion bearing visible injuries sustained in such circumstances. It is both ironic and disquieting that despite suffering harm at the hands of the public, accused persons often insist on being released back into the same environment,” he said
The magistrate added that in this present case, the siblings have themselves acknowledged that the community is vying for their blood, a vivid admission of the risk they face. “Yet, they still want to be released into the same hostile community, even after stating their intended relocation to Letlhakane is driven by concerns of their safety”, stressed Magetse.
He said the safety of the Motlotlegi brothers cannot be entrusted with the own amateur attempts of evasion such as relocation to Letlhakane, which offers no legal or practical guarantee of protection. Furthermore, he said the court must also safeguard the public from breaking the law through acts of vigilante justice.
The duo is facing five charges of breaking into motor vehicles, stealing P2 400 cash and two cellphones worth P21 500 since April this year.
