No bail sought for driver in Chabane accident
POLOKWANE: Amukelani Rikhotso, 30, made sure he had the hood of his sweater pulled over his head as he entered the packed courtroom in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning.
The driver of the truck involved in a road crash in which Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane died was trying to avoid getting his picture taken. He succeeded only in part.
His appearance in court was brief and the case was postponed to April 6 for further investigation.
The State suggested the postponement and Rikhotso’s lawyer, advocate Erwin Sithole, had no objections.
But just over an hour later, Rikhotso was brought back from the holding cells to the same courtroom.
The court wanted to change the court date for his next appearance after journalists from The Star and The Citizen had alerted court officials to the fact that April 6 was a public holiday.
When Rikhotso entered the courtroom for the second time, he appeared relaxed in the absence of the cameras.
Magistrate Mohammed Shaik admitted to not verifying the court date after it was earlier agreed upon by the defence and the State.
“The court did not look at the calendar,” Shaik said.
The presiding officer then waved a small calendar and promised to corroborate the new proposed court date of April 10.
The defence lawyer earlier said he was not prepared to launch a bail application. This came after the State had pointed out it would oppose such an application and requested the delay of the case for further investigation.
It emerged in court yesterday that the police were yet to complete their profiling of Rikhotso.
Shaik urged the profiling to be expedited “so he does not stay in custody unnecessarily”.
Chabane’s nephew and provincial ANC Youth League leader, Musa Chabane, said outside the court the family were appreciative of the public sympathy.
Limpopo legislature deputy Speaker Lehlogonolo Masoga was also present in court, as was ANC chief whip in the provincial caucus Falaza Mdaka. A handful of members of the public stood around outside the court.
Joseph Chauke, from Zebediela, outside Polokwane, said he had attended to hear both sides of the story.
“The government should be harsher on people who drive under the influence of alcohol. Whatever the explanation, those who died will not return,” he said.
The Presidency announced yesterday that Chabane would receive a category one official funeral on Saturday at Xikundzu village in Malamulele, Limpopo.