Student policeman in the dock over teen’s death

THE STUDENT policeman arrested over the death of 16-year-old Thato Mokoka could face life imprisonment if it was found that his shooting of the Soweto teenager was premeditated.

If Sipho Mbatha is found guilty only on the charge of murder, he could face a minimum of 15 years in prison.

It was Mbatha’s first court appearance at the Roodepoort Regional Court, but magistrate Delize Smith did not mince her words in issuing the warning to Mbatha. She told him she was not saying he was guilty, but that she needed to explain the possibility to him.

Later, she granted the State’s application to postpone the bail application until February 27 so that an identity parade could be held.

Mbatha was arrested on Friday, three days after Mokoka was shot dead outside the shack that he lived in at his granny’s Bramfischerville Phase Two home.

Mbatha was allegedly holding the gun that discharged and killed Thato. The semi- automatic R5 was not on its safety setting and fired seven bullets, three of which allegedly hit Thato in his forehead, abdomen and back.

Mbatha, a sector police patroller, had accompanied a warrant officer to Thato’s shack, where they believed he and other boys in a gang called BWA had gathered.

The Dobsonville police station had received complaints that the gang had been terrorising schoolchildren in the area and were brandishing guns.

Mbatha, dressed in a navy tracksuit top and a black tracksuit pants, stood confidently in the dock, looking straight ahead. The bald-headed officer was a reservist from 2006 until 2009 and went to police college in 2010. He is currently on the last level of his practical train- ing and will finish his training at the end of this month.

A small crowd of Bramfischerville teenagers gathered at the court to follow the proceedings.

After the appearance, they were angry and disappointed.

One teen, Oupa Masisi, said while he would respect the law, he “hated” the way Smith had told Mbatha he would face prison time only if he was found guilty.

Mbatha is being held at the high risk unit of the Johannesburg Central police station until Monday, when he’ll appear.

PICTURE: DUMISANI SIBEKO SOLIDARITY: Friends and classmates of Thato Mokoka, who was shot dead last week, gathered outside the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court yesterday for the appearance of the accused, a student policeman.