Three in court for North West cop’s murder
Three men accused of killing a North West policeman appeared briefly in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Thulani Mtshali, Mduduzi Gumede, and Bhekizitha Madondo are charged with armed robbery and murder – all charges relating to the shooting of constable John Mokotedi last month.
Mokotedi, of the Mooinooi police station, was gunned down at Keyarona shopping mall in Bapong, near Brits, on November 4.
He was on routine patrol in the area with his partner when they encountered an armed gang who had just robbed a clothing shop in the mall.
The officers did not know the men had robbed the store.
The gang had allegedly suspected the officers were there to arrest them and started firing at the two.
Mokotedi was shot in the head and died on the scene. The other officer was not injured.
The case against the three alleged shooters was postponed to January 18 for a bail application.
Mokotedi was the first policeman to be killed in the line of duty in the North West province this year. At least 82 police officers have been killed countrywide this year.
Photo: Gallo images