COURT DENIES A MAN ACCUSED OF PREMEDITATED MURDER AND STOCK THEFT BAIL
Fredrick Pieter Jacobus Botha (42) was denied bail by the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court. He is facing a charge of premeditated murder and stock theft to the value of R293000. It is alleged that on 29 November 2021, the deceased Christiaan Van Tonder sold 31 cattle to Botha. After the cattle were handed over to the accused, it is alleged that the accused asked the deceased to drive with him, using the deceased vehicle, to a remote area near Theoville plots, Barrage, to finalise the payment. When they arrived at the place, it was alleged that the accused shot and killed the deceased in his bakkie. This was discovered and reported to the police the same day by the neighbourhood watch, of Barrage after they found the bakkie of the deceased with his body inside.
After investigations by the police, Botha was arrested on 29 August 2023, in court he asked to be released on an R5000 bail, however, the prosecutor Moses Ralitsela opposed his bail application and lead evidence of the investigating officer George Christiaan Foucher that there was likelihood that Botha can interfere with the sate witnesses as he was known to them and that they all operate their businesses in the same area. Moreover, he told the court that Botha committed a serious offence that shocked the community since both the deceased and the accused are known by the community. Magistrate Mila Kgobane agreed with the state that the state had a prima facie case against the accused.
Furthermore, the accused failed to prove to the court that there were exceptional circumstances that warrant his release on bail. In his affidavit, he only said the state case was weak and provided no further evidence, therefore bail was denied.
The matter was postponed to 30 October 2023, for DPP instructions.
