Testimony about Thoriso Themane's last hours alive leaves courtroom in tears

• Emotional testimony from the witnesses during Thoriso Themane's murder trial sparked a tearful courtroom as evidence was given about his final hours alive.
• Two witnesses told the court that Themane was targeted by members of a gang after he had been mistakenly identified as someone who had stolen one of the members' caps.
• The group surrounded and attacked Themane, beating him until he lost consciousness and later died upon arrival at a hospital.

The Polokwane High Court in Limpopo heard on Friday that Thoriso Themane, who was brutally attacked last year, was a victim of mistaken identity in the hands of gangs made up of minors from two neighbouring suburbs in the city.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) provincial spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi told News24 there were a lot of tears in court when two more witnesses gave similar testimonies of what transpired on the fateful day.

Six minors, who cannot be identified, and two adults, Alfred Mothapo and Chuene Maleka, appeared before Judge Violet Semenya. The trial was being held behind closed doors.

Malabi-Dzhangi said the witnesses, who were former accused, but have now turned State witnesses, told the court that the minors belonged to two gangs known as "Big Five" and "Rosh" that were based in the suburbs of Fauna Park and Flora Park.

On the fateful day, the first accused sent a text message to accused number three, informing him to mobilise other gang members as he had found a "person" who stole a cap from him. The other members quickly arrived and joined in the attack.

The "person" turned out to be Themane who ran to a nearby church, but found the gates locked. The attack continued until Themane ran to a house for safety, but the beating proceeded until he lost consciousness.

The two witnesses told the court that it later emerged that Themane was a victim of mistaken identity.

The post-mortem results earlier submitted by prosecutor advocate Mashudu Mudau showed that Themane died of severe head injuries and internal bleeding.

Malabi-Dzhangi said one witness was asked about the whereabouts of a certain minor accused who also participated actively in the attack. The witness confirmed that the accused was stabbed to death outside a tavern in Seshego in March last year.

"There were a lot of tears in court as the two witnesses gave their testimony. They painted a picture of a ferocious attack. Even some of the court officials shed a tear," Malabi-Dzhangi said.

Themane was attacked on 23 February 2019 and succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day.

The trial was postponed to 6 April.