POLOKWANE – Three adult suspects, who on 28 February were arrested in connection with the murder of Thorisho Themane, appeared in the Polokwane Magistrates Court today.

The three suspects were arrested at different location within the city.

Read more: #JusticeForThoriso: three adults arrested, bringing total to nine

According to police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, one of the adult suspects was acquitted from his charges as the court said there was no evidence to link the man to the murder of Themane. The other two suspects were released on R1000 bail, each and will appear again on 2 April.

Also appearing in the Polokwane Children’s Court today, was a 13-year-old boy who was arrested on Friday, 8 March, after he was taken to the Polokwane police station by his parents.

Read more: 13-year-old boy’s arrest brings Thoriso Themane’s murder suspect count to 10

The boy joins six other teenagers as suspects in the murder of Themane and all seven minors will again appear in court on Thursday, 14 March.

A 72-hour activation plan was put into action by police following Themane’s brutal murder on 23 February, which resulted in the arrest of five teenagers on Monday, 25 February. The arrests were then followed by the arrest of the sixth suspect, also a teenager the following day.

“One of the teenagers has since been released as she could not be linked to the crime committed,” explains Ngoepe.

Since the arrests, Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has dispelled information circulating on social media suggesting that the son of the retired police officer, who boasted on social media about this brutal incident, has been released from custody.

“I want to put it categorically clear that all the arrested suspects will duly be processed through ongoing court processes and that no one will receive any preferential treatment,” he concluded.

raeesak@nmgroup.co.za