Ditebogo Phalane murder: One of the accused was out on bail for violent crimes

JOHANNESBURG - It has been revealed that one of the men accused of murdering five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane was out on bail for various violent crimes when he allegedly committed the deadly hijacking that claimed the child's life.

Elia Maeko, Ali Sithole and Nido Gumbo made their first court appearance for the crime on Tuesday.

They have been charged with murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

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Gumbo, a Mozambican national, has also been charged with being in the country illegally.

One of the points flagged by State prosecutor, Tumelo Letaoane, was that the second accused, Ali Sithole, lied about all the pending cases against him.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Lumka Mahanjana has clarified the pending charges against him.

"So accused number two has pending matters at Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates Court, where he is facing a charge of attempted murder, possession of firearm, possession of ammunition and robbery with aggravating circumstances."

However, despite the State's records, Sithole insisted he had only one pending charge in Ga-Rankuwa.

The State has asked for a lengthy postponement to August to allow for further investigations, including the post-mortem results and further statements.