Trial to start for six children in stoning case

The six children, who stand accused of murdering three orphans by stoning them to death, will start their trial on Monday, 25 February.
The trial will take place in the Mokopane Regional Court.
“The six, who are still minors, has appeared in the Mookgopong Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 February, for a trial date to be set,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Ronel Otto.
The six accused are on trial for killing 9-year-old Bafana Kekana, his brother Hosea Kekana, 10, and their cousin Johanna Kekana, 12, in August last year.
The three orphans, from Mantane Drop-In Centre, were found dead in the bushes at the old location in Mookgophong on Saturday, 18 August. Mookgophong police spokesperson, Warrant Officer George Ledwaba, told The BEAT, sister publication of Die Pos, that the children were found tied with shoelaces and that the young girl was raped.
According to the caretakers at the centre, the children went missing on the Wednesday. The caretakers indicated that the children formed part of other learners from Dikubu Primary School who were taken out of school to join a march held on that day.
The National Children’s Act prevents the media from attending court proceedings, publishing photographs or naming the accused.
— LiN News/The Beat