Third Fatana suspect linked to Mgidi-murder

MOKOPANE - The court appearance of the two suspects in the Fatana murder case took a surprising turn when a third accused appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate's Court last Friday. The man is also one of the men arrested for the murder of Charles Mgidi.
The court was fully packed as Charles Mogale (46) and his co-accused, Thabo Matlaila (30) appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate Court for the second time for the alleged assassination of Gideon Fatana who was shot and killed at his Mokopane home in March.
A third accused joined Mogale and Matlaila in the accused stand and is known as Desmond Machaba (48). Machaba is also one of the suspects in the Charles Mgidi case.
Mgidi was shot dead two weeks after Fatana following an argument with several armed men at a garage in Mokopane. Machaba and two other men, Samuel Matjila and Patric Sekhu have been arrested for Mgidi’s murder and have since been in custody. They have been denied bail.
The three suspects in the Fatana case will also remain in police custody until 4 June when they are expected to again appear in court when Machaba’s bail application will be heard.  Machaba’s attorney on Friday requested for her client to be transferred back to Polokwane prison, explaining it is due to alleged irregularities at Mokopane's holding cells.