Pretoria – Three men from Soshanguve South accused of the murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane during a hijacking have abandoned their requests for bail.
Ditebogo was fatally shot in May 2024 as he ran to meet his father who was being hijacked at their gate.
On Thursday (5 September 2024), the three accused 36-year-old Elia Moeko, 30-year-old Ali Sithole, and 29-year-old Nido Gumbe, appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court, where they abandoned their bail applications.
During their previous court appearance on 27 August 2024, the accused indicated their intention to bring forth a bail application after previously abandoning their bail request on 28 May 2024.
All three men face serious charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Additionally, Gumbe, a Mozambican, is facing a charge of being an illegal status in the country.
Allegations are that on that fateful day, 10 May 2024, the accused shot 5-year-old Ditebogo while hijacking the car driven by the boy’s father, Tebogo Phalane, when he arrived home.
Ditebogo died in hospital.
Following an extensive investigation by the Directorate of Priority Crime Detection, led by Major General Khumalo, the three suspects were apprehended at the Pretoria Moot Police Station on 23 May 2024, while they were in custody for unrelated charges.
Moeko also abandoned his bail application today for a separate matter at the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court, where he faces charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of unlicensed ammunition.
Additionally, Sithole and Gumbe have pending charges at the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court for possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition.
Sithole is also implicated in another pending case at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court for possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The court has postponed the matter until 4 December 2024, for further investigations and a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the potential consolidation of all cases against the accused.
“The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remains committed to pursuing justice in this case and emphasises the serious nature of the crimes involved,” said NPA Gauteng Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana
“The organisation will continue to seek accountability for those responsible for violent acts against members of the community.”
