
Tefo Tefo
THE Magistrate’s Court has cancelled the surety bail condition for Democratic Congress (DC) deputy leader Monyane Moleleki who is facing charges of violating mining laws in the High Court.
This was after two DC officials, Serialong Qoo and Semano Sekatle, had attempted to withdraw their surety for Mr Moleleki as the infighting rocking the party rages on.
Mr Moleleki has admitted to being a member of the DC’s Lirurubele (butterflies) faction that is fighting the Lithope (loosely translated to girlfriends) grouping for the control of the party. Messrs Qoo and Sekatle are linked to the Lithope faction that supports DC leader Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.
Mr Moleleki and Refela Holdings directors Mohapi Khofu, Tšepo Khofu, Kereke Moteletsane and Moeketsi Motšoane face charges of contravening the country’s mining regulations in 2012.
The Refela bosses allegedly failed to comply with the Mines and Minerals Act between 1-29 May 2012, when acquiring licences to prospect for diamonds in Ha Ramatšeliso and Mosaqane in the Qacha’s Nek district.
Mr Moleleki, who was Natural Resources minister at the time the offense was allegedly committed, stands accused of abusing his office to facilitate the issuance of the said permits.
The permits were later cancelled by former Mining minister, Tlali Khasu, on 31 October 2012 on suspicion they had been issued under questionable circumstances.
When Mr Moleleki first appeared before the Magistrate’s Court over the case, he was ordered to find a person or people to provide surety of property worth M100 000 as one of his bail conditions.
Messrs Qoo and Sekatle had provided the guarantee in the form of vehicles, but on Thursday the duo withdrew the surety in the Magistrate’s Court.
However, Magistrate Ntai Mojaje ruled that surety was no longer necessary as Mr Moleleki was honouring his bail conditions.
Meanwhile, High Court judge Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi on 27 November last year postponed the case to 14 March 2017 for hearing after numerous deferments due to Mr Moleleki’s illness at the time. A doctor’s note had stated that Mr Moleleki had tonsillor cancer and was too ill to stand trial.