A 22-year-old man was arrested in Philippolis in the Free State yesterday for the murder of another patron at a local tavern. According to Sergeant Martin Xuma, a spokesperson for the provincial police, the incident occurred at approximately 1 am during a game of pool.
KILLED FOR R5
Xuma said the deceased and the suspect allegedly quarrelled over an R5 coin during the game. "It is alleged that a 22-year-old suspect broke a bottle and stabbed a 22-year-old victim in the neck. The victim went out of the tavern and was found lying on the pavement just outside.," Zuma said, adding that the police were called to the scene and found the lifeless body of the victim outside the tavern. A case of murder was opened for investigation. The suspect was later traced with the help of the community and arrested.
SUSPECT TO APPEAR IN COURT
Xuma added that the suspect is expected to appear before Philippolis Magistrates Court soon, facing a charge of murder. In a separate matter, a man who murdered Lehlogonolo Mothapi after a fight at a tavern in Rietvlei was sentenced to 28 years by the Southern Gauteng High Court sitting in Johannesburg earlier this week. Retshidisitswe Lebojoa who was out on parole during the incident got into a fight with Mothapi at a tavern in September 2022, and someone stopped the fight. The court heard that Mothapi left with his friend on foot but was followed by Lebojoa who was with an unknown man and armed. They fired shots as the group fled in different directions, and Mothapi was shot multiple times, and he died on the scene. Lebojoa was given 15 years for murder, eight years for attempted murder, three years for having an illegal firearm, and two years for being in possession of illegal ammunition.