No bail for alleged child murderer

MOKOPANE – The accused man who was arrested for the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s 9-year-old son, Katlego Lesenya was denied bail in the Mokerong Magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

Katlego Lesenya who was a Grade 4 learner at Mokopane Primary School was reported missing in May. His body was found in a shallow river in Marken days thereafter.

Jimmy Makhubele, the accused allegedly pointed out the place where he dumped the boy’s body.

Police reports state that the boy’s mother is a 38-year-old sergeant with the Mokopane Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit. She broke off her relationship with the accused, one day before her son went missing.

Police arrested the suspect on a charge of kidnapping in Lephalale. He pointed out the area where he allegedly dumped the boy’s body. The accused allegedly threw Katlego's body from a bridge on the Marken road between Mahwelereng and Lephalale in the Tinmines area. Members of the K9-unit and the police searched the shallow river for the boy’s body and retrieved it.

Katlego was described a loving and friendly child and the principal and teachers of Mokopane Primary expressed their sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the boy.

Angry community members of Mzombane village outside Mokopane protested in front of court on Tuesday to oppose Makhubele’s bail application. Other protesters wanted him to be released for them to take law into their own hands. He was however denied bail and is expected to appear in the same court on 11 August.