Botha-Bothe, Feb. 12 — At least twelve people, including five shop stewards, appeared before the Botha-Bothe Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the alleged theft of goods from Kobeli Shop in the district.
The five shop stewards are Retsibile Mokhants’i (32) of Mokhotlong; Ntlholohetsane Thabang Motjofi (33) of Makopo, Reabetsoe Phomole (23) of Makopo, Busiziwe Mabaleha (29) of Levi’s Nek and Nts’eliseng Secemeceme (30) of Ha Selomo.
They are charged with contravening Section 57(1)(2)(a), read with Section 109 of the Penal Code Act No. 6 of 2010 (Theft), in that between July 2025 and January 2026, they allegedly stole various items from the shop.
The stolen items reportedly include one green suit and several pairs of shoes, namely 41 pairs of Toughees, 27 pairs of Nike, 12 pairs of Jonathan D, seven pairs of Bronx, Mazarate, 51 pairs of Grasshoppers, four pairs of Superga, seven pairs of Jordan, three pairs formal shoes, 41 pairs of Puma, nine pairs of Jeep, one pair of CAT, eight pairs of Adidas, 12 pairs of Eleven Rief boots and 23 pairs of Love Rose formal shoes.
The property, valued at M204,900.00, is said to belong to Matsibiso Tuke. The five accused were each granted bail of M2,000.00 which they paid.
In a related matter, the other seven accused Maatang Hlootho (47) of Masalaneng, Moeketsi Ts’ehlo (38) of Lipelaneng Ha Kamoho, Ts’itso Mathaba (32) of Ha Kamoho, Reitumetse Katse (28) and Mamokete Leotla (28) of Linakeng Ha Mothunts’ane, Karabo Libenyane (38) of Lipelaneng and Sebotsa Sefatsane (37) of Qalo are charged with receiving or buying stolen goods allegedly obtained from the five shop stewards.
They face charges of contravening Section 67(2), read with Section 109 of the Penal Code Act No. 6 of 2010.
Each of the seven accused was granted bail of M800.00 which they also paid.
All 12 accused are expected to appear in court again on February 25, 2026.
Ends/MJ/tl
