On Tuesday, 18 days after she allegedly killed a man, 23-year-old Gomotsang Maluke was granted bail by Francistown Magistrates Court.
The young woman made front-page news earlier this month when she was accused of murdering her big sister’s boyfriend, reportedly beating Prince Nvundla to death with a spade at the family home in Mathangwane.
In an interview with Maluke’s family shortly after her arrest, The Voice was told Nvundla was an abusive man, especially when drunk, with a long history of harassing his girlfriend. The 36-year-old Zimbabwean herdboy was killed while allegedly trying to drag Gadzikanani Petros, 30, away from her home, having previously threatened to burn the house down.
In her initial court appearance, a tearful Maluke said she was not interested in bail, noting she feared for her life as she suspects Petros’ friends and countrymen were out there waiting for her.
This week, although she never spoke a word, the state informed the court they have no problem with the accused being released for now.
It was heard investigations are almost complete, with the postmortem done and the deceased’s body handed over to his family in Zimbabwe for burial.
Setting Maluke free, Magistrate Tshepo Magetse granted her bail pending committal to the High Court, providing she binds herself to P2,000 – meaning she will only pay if she breaks her other bail conditions.
“The accused person is to provide two Batswana sureties bound with P2,000 each and to stay at Satellite [in Francistown] and alert the police should she change location,” ordered Magistrate Magetse.
Maluke is due back in court on June 10.
