…claims he acted in a self defence as he thought he was under attack from Famo gangsters…
Moorosi Tsiane
A Maseru man, Motlatsi Rantaoane, has been charged with the murder of a soldier and attempted murder of another soldier. He faces an additional charge of illegal possession of a firearm.
The murder charges stem from a 2017 shooting incident which claimed the life of Private Katleho Seliane, and a vendor, Moiketsi Makhabane, at the Maseru border gate. The other charge is for the attempted murder of Pvt Halekhethe Nkonyana, during the same shooting incident.
Rantaoane was among five men who were arrested by the police in connection with the incident back in 2017. He was arrested along with Molise Motaung, Tello Thoi, Lekhoele Noko, Molise Pakela and Khothatso Makibinyane. All others were freed due to lack of evidence linking them to the shooting incident. However, Messrs Noko, Pakela and Makibinyane were strangled to death by some soldiers shortly after being freed by police who had found no evidence against them. Their bodies were then thrown into the Mohale Dam by the soldiers.
Ten soldiers, including former Military Intelligence (MI) boss, Brigadier Rapele Mphaki, have been charged with the trio’s murders. Brigadier Mphaki’s co-accused are Major Pitso Ramoepane, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi, Captain Mahlehle Moeletsi, Lance Corporal Mahlomola Makhoali, Privates Nthatakane Motanyane, Motšoane Machai, Tieho Tikiso, Liphapang Sefako and Nemase Faso.
Rantaoane has been charged separately for the murders of Pvt Seliane, Makhabane, as well as the attempted murder of Pvt Nkonyana which kick started the chain of events leading to the trio’s murder.
During his trial by Judge ‘Mafelile Ralebese on Tuesday, Rantaoane pleaded not guilty to the murder and attempted murder charges. He however, pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal possession of a gun.
Pvt Nkonyana, who works in the army’s Military Intelligence section, took to the witness stand and narrated how he escaped death by a whisker while his colleague, Pvt Seliane, was gunned down on that fateful day.
He said the deceased Pvt Seliane was shot twice by Rantaoane despite that they had introduced themselves to him and explained that they wanted to talk to him.
“We were working at the Maseru border gate on 13 May 2017 at around 18:00 hours when we saw a group of about four men,” Pvt Nkonyana said.
“I was on the side of the Gateway Garage while (the now deceased) Seliane was on the other side near the off sales. He (Seliane) called me over to him and told me that he saw that one of the men had a gun with him and he was even shouting that he can shoot.
“As we were standing there, a street vendor came over and told us that he had seen that one of the four men had a gun. Private Seliane called the accused to him but he refused to come. But because he was close to us, we introduced ourselves to him. Seliane even showed him his work identification card. He (Rantaoane) shouted to the people he was with that we were attacking him. All the while, he was walking in the direction of the nearby FNB ATM and Pvt Seliane followed him.
“I followed them but I took a different route. As I was following them, I was approached by a dark tall man who asked who we were and why we were following them. I asked him who he was and continued walking. Shortly after that I heard two-gun shots and Seliane fell to the ground. I tried to grab the accused and he shot me on the right side of my chest. But I continued holding him as we were fighting over the gun he had. That tall man came and pushed me to the ground enabling the accused to escape,” Pvt Nkonyana said.
He said he phoned one Major Tsietsi Monyeke to inform him of the events that had transpired and shortly afterwards, a vehicle was sent to ferry him and Pvt Seliane to Makoanyane Hospital. He said he was attended by an army doctor, Captain Thabo Moleleki, who operated and removed a bullet from his body. Pvt Seliane was already dead by then, he said.
His testimony was however, disputed by the defence lawyer, Lehlohonolo Maseli, who accused him of fabricating evidence.
“As you were giving out your statement to the police, you managed to give out a detailed report of that day’s events but decided to leave out the part where you introduced yourselves to the accused.
“You never introduced yourselves to the accused; you even failed to introduce yourself to that same tall dark man who asked you who you were. The accused says I must tell you that this is all an afterthought as you never introduced yourselves to him and that was the reason he went to the police after shooting at you as he thought that he was being attacked by the members of the Seakhi (Famo) gang. The reason he shot at you was self defence as he thought he was in eminent attack by Seakhi members,” Adv Maseli said.
The trial continues tomorrow. It remains to be seen if one of the witnesses, Lekhahla Lenka, who failed to show up on Tuesday for unexplained reasons, will be available this time.
Crown Counsel, Lehlanako Mofilikoane, successfully petitioned Justice Ralebese for a warrant for Lenka’s arrest to enable him to appear in court and give his testimony.
