The suspected murderers of Thebe Mothibi, owner of the By Hoek Lounge, are set to reappear today – Monday – in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court for bail application. They are Sabata Mpatsi (30), Thabo Masithela (26), and Tshokolo Malebo (33).
The three men briefly appeared in court last Tuesday, 7 February, following their arrest two days after Mothibi’s gruesome murder. The trio from Lesotho face charges of murder, attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and being in the Republic of South Africa without proper documentation.
The charge of attempted murder pertains to a bystander who was struck by one of the stray bullets during Mothibi’s fatal shooting on the premises of his business in the early hours of Sunday, 5 February, morning. The male bystander is reportedly recovering from gunshot wounds.
Mothibi died instantly at the scene after Mpatsi, allegedly shot him several times before fleeing the scene. His funeral was held on Saturday.
Lt. Col Thabo Covane, spokesperson for the police in the Mangaung Metro, said Mpatsi was traced and arrested in Mafora, while the other two were arrested as accomplices to the murder and attempted murder incident.
The slain businessman was also the treasurer of the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC) movement. Mothibi was reportedly attacked by the armed assailant hours after he had intervened to stop a fight at the entertainment venue.
His brutal murder sparked outrage that saw community members vent their anger on innocent Lesotho nationals, trading as vendors selling fruit and vegetables as well as taxi operators in the Phahameng and Rocklands township. The furore also saw community members clash with members of the Public Order Policing (POP) unit, who had been deployed to restore order.
