Two men remanded in custody for the murder of five people

Two suspects were remanded in custody after appearing before the Lehurutshe Magistrate's Court on Monday on five separate murder cases. Initially, the accused - Obakeng Segwabe, 19, and Olebogeng Mafora, 21, were arrested for the murder of two people after human skeletal remains were found in plastic in the bushes near Mosweu village. Subsequent to further investigations, they were also linked to three decomposed bodies that were discovered between December 2023 and January 2024. The deceased were part of a group boys that were at an initiation school. Three additional charges of murder were added, said the police. The accused are expected to reappear in court on Tuesday, 23 January 2024, for bail application. Investigations, including the identification of the bodies through DNA are underway. The deceased's names will only be confirmed after that process. The team also arrested Koketso Mmutlane, 19, for defeating the ends of justice. The accused appeared in court on Monday. According to information, h e allegedly influenced Segwabe and Mafora to lie about the legality of the initiation school and its activities including the deaths. He is expected appear before the same court on Friday, 09 February 2024, after being released on warning. Source: South African Government News Agency