R estaurant Restaurant
Accommodation Accommodation
TEL: 057 352 5430 OR 084 503 7648, PRETORUISSTRAAT DAGBREEK WELKOM
Wednesday & Sunday Buffet – Adults –
R65.00 Children – u/10 R25.00
Come Enjoy The Best Buffet Ever.
R50
Pizza Special (Only Monday-Saturday) - Medium to large R50
STILL THE BEST PRICES
NEWNEW-VI270417
0 057-357-1304
Donderdag 3 Augustus 2017
www.vistanews.co.za
Gratis
Desperate for answers
Case of murdered police officer still unresolved after almost five years Marti Will mwill@volksblad.com
The brutal murder of a policeman in 2012 has left his grieving father desperate for answers. The bloodied and mutilated body of Capt. Arthur Mabaso (44) was found in Tugela Park in St Helena, Welkom, behind his severely damaged police vehicle. Mabaso had been on duty when he was attacked with a sharp object and his body was driven over. Both of his legs had been broken. At the time of his murder Mabaso had been a policeman for 20 years. He was found near the building where he worked for the police’s Vehicle Theft Unit in St Helena and scarcely two blocks from where he lived. His wife, Nthabaleng Mabaso, was arrested for his murder, but released almost a year later. The reason cited was insufficient evidence. Thomas Mabaso, his father, says he is desperate to bring his son’s murderer to book. “I am unhappy with the way in which the investigation was done, and the ensuing court proceedings. “The scheduled date for the trial at the High Court in Virginia was 18 August 2013, but when we got there, the doors were locked and there were no proceedings. I was never informed of any changes of the date and venue. “Three days later I noticed that the accused had been released from jail, so I went to the Magistrate’s Court seeking clarity. I was told that the case had been withdrawn
due to lack of evidence. “Why was the suspect released? She was remanded in custody for almost a year on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. When I tried to speak to the prosecutor of the High Court, I was told he had resigned.” In a letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) written on 12 July last year, Thomas again asked why the suspect had been released. “I want justice to be served and the murderers of my son to be arrested so that I can find closure.” Thomas was told that the charges against the accused were withdrawn after a thorough consultation with the available state witnesses. “It was clear from the consultation that there was no direct evidence to link the accused to the murder and the circumstantial evidence was insufficient to sustain a successful prosecution,” stated a letter from the DPP (dated 11 August 2016). He was told that if he was not satisfied with the outcome, he could apply for a Nolle Prosequi certificate, in
which case he could institute a private prosecution at his own expense. On enquiry the police told Vista that witnesses had contradicted each other. “The key witnesses were a traditional doctor and another man. Before the trial, the man had been found murdered and the traditional doctor had died from natural causes. “According to the investigation, the suspect, who was the wife of the deceased, went to the traditional doctor for cleansing after murdering her husband and confessed everything to him. “The case was withdrawn due to inconclusive evidence. The docket was taken to the inquest court and if we can get new information, the case can be reopened for investigation,” states the report from the police. “I have it on good authority that the traditional healer is alive, but refuses to testify. I will now approach the Public Protector to take the matter further. All I want is closure and for the murderers of my son to face the full might of the law,” says Thomas.
The brutal murder of Capt. Arthur Mabaso in 2012 left his grieving father, Thomas, desperate for answers. Photo: Marti Will
X1TTAGJW-VI030817
X1THAGQM-VI040517