Suspects in Dinokana initiation school deaths to appear in court

Three of the four suspects implicated in the deaths of five boys at Dinokana village near Zeerust in the North West are scheduled to appear in the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court today.

The suspects, Olebile Mafora, Obakeng Segwabe, and Rethabile Moletsane, face five charges of murder. They were arrested in January 2024 in connection with the initiation school deaths that occurred in December 2023.

The case gained attention after five boys, aged 14 to 23, went missing in December.

Weeks later, the local community, supported by the Arise Afrika Arise organisation, conducted a search, uncovering human remains buried in shallow graves.

Four victims have been identified, while the fifth remains unaccounted for.

National Secretary of Arise Afrika Arise, Roselyn Tshwane says, “We are prayerful that we are going for the beginning of the trial, hence, today we are here to hear the bail hearing for accused number one, two and four, that we are opposing very strongly, and we hope for a positive response after this.”

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Khutsafalo Lesemela, the mother of one of the boys whose remains have not yet been found, says the uncertainty is taking a heavy toll on her.

She says the recent burials of the other four boys have reopened old wounds, making the pain even harder to bear.

Lesemela says, “Up to now I haven’t received any match as far as the DNA is concerned. I feel sad, at the same time I can’t say I am sad. Sometimes I feel very confused not knowing what will happen. Burying those boys reminds me of so many things. I become so emotional thinking about my son. These families were able to bury their sons but what about mine.”