Widow loses hope in justice system Chairperson of the African National Congress branch for ward 95 in Stinkwater, Mr Madoda Makopjane, who has been charged with the murder of Mr Piet Gama a year ago, still has to see his day in court. The deceased’s wife, Mrs. Christina Gama, says she has lost hope that the suspect will be arrested, he is “seen by all and sundry roaming the streets”. Makopjane is alleged to have assaulted Gama before the deceased was confined to hospital and subsequently died. Case number 111/06/2013 was opened at Temba Police Station. Gama, widow of the deceased, is perturbed that since the police have told her family that they would be informed when an arrest has been made, but nothing concrete has come up. But investigating officer, Warrant Officer R.P. Seanego, while on sick leave commented thus; “The case is still on the roll and the docket has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Mahikeng for a decision on the matter. The suspect is still on bail.” Mr. Eric Lekgothoane, prosecutor at the Moretele Magistrate Court, telephonically confirmed Seanego’s comment. Provincial Spokesperson for the North West Police, Brigadier Thulani Ngubane, said he was not in a position to comment because; “Temba Police Station is under Gauteng Province.” Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) Spokesperson Mr. Moses Dlamini said his office no longer does service delivery complaints. Lieutenant Sarah Lesabane, Spokesperson for the Temba Police said the case has been referred to the Director of Prosecutions because the post mortem indicate the deceased died of natural causes, adding that; “The family should be patient as murder cases can drag on for a period up to five years.” On the contrary Gama said; “I have lost all hope that the suspect will ever be arrested. I have told my children that I have given up; everything about this matter, telling myself that it is God who will revenge me or pay back. The investigating officer has told me that, we should relax and wait for him to approach us or give us feedback,” said Gama. “It is up to a year now; we have not heard anything from him yet. He has just disappeared into thin air. I have just finished my period of mourning last weekend, carrying the pain all the way. These days people with power bribe their way out of trouble. We the poor and downtrodden benefit nothing out of this democracy,” added Gama. Gama said she was saddened by the rumour circulating in the village that the suspect had gone to some of the places where Sosh Times is distributed and collected all the copies available for destruction, in order to hide some of the information to the society. Makopjane was not available for comment. Gama further said when the investigating officer visited her home last time, he requested the family to investigate or trace the person whom it is said was there when the deceased was assaulted and photographed the incident. “I told him, I cannot do that. It was for him as a policeman to trace and investigate,” said Gama. Mr. Sammy Gama, the deceased son said; “A post mortem was conducted at the government mortuary in Ga-Rankuwa. The investigating officer promised to provide the family with the results thereof as soon as it was available. Up to now we are still waiting.” Sammy Gama had previously told Sosh Times that he was called on the day of the alleged assault by residents that his father was being assaulted by the suspect at his parents’ home. He hired a car quickly to rush there to find out what was happening. “When we reached the place, we found my father behind a van, with the suspect claiming that he has caught a witch and he is taking him to the bush to kill him. I and the driver of the hired car, decided to follow him up, instead he decided to change course and went to the Temba Police station,” said Sammy Gama. “When we reached the police station, Mokopjane told the police that he has caught a witch in his yard. The police looked scared of Mokopjane. They did nothing about the situation. Mokopyane even ridiculed them by sayi
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 10:34:40 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015