David Khado Mogale (54) was denied bail on Tuesday after being arrested for the alleged murder of his girlfriend.
Mogale, who was cool and calm during the proceedings, made a brief appearance before Makgaola Foso in the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court. After hearing heads of argument from both state prosecutor, NS Mabale and the defence attorney, Johan le Grange, Foso ruled in favour of the state. He ruled that the brutal murder of Mogale’s girlfriend, Mpotseng Moeder Matsose, was indeed premeditated and the state has a strong case. Matsose was allegedly murdered in cold blood by her estranged boyfriend, Mogale at 07:00 on 27 March. He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.
Matsose was shot dead in her garage as she was about to leave for work. The accused later handed himself over to the police as reported in the Herald of 3 April. The gallery was packed to capacity with members of the public and the ANC Women’s League, which opposed bail, When making his ruling, Foso said the murder falls under schedule 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“The domestic worker witnessed the crime and ran away. On that day, there was no argument between the couple. The girlfriend died of gunshot wounds. The couple’s relationship started in 2009 and turned sour. Police confiscated Mogale’s firearm after Matsose applied for a protection order for domestic violence, but got it back after she dropped the charges.
The court also heard that the sister of the deceased had submitted an affidavit that Mogale had, at some stage, threatened to kill Matsose if she ever left him.
“It is very clear that this was a premeditated murder,” concluded the magistrate. Mogale will remain in custody and the case has been postponed for further investigation and a DPP (director public prosecutions) decision to refer this murder case to a high court on 9 June.
