A 23-year-old man, accused of committing a series of violent robberies and murders in the Lynnwood area last year, on Friday appeared in the Pretoria High Court wearing a Springbok rugby jersey.
Several witnesses also testified that Mohlatsi Alfred Matlala was wearing a Springbok rugby jersey when he was apprehended by three refuse-removal workers on October 16 last year — the same day Lynnwood Manor resident Cathy Odendaal was gruesomely murdered in her home.
Matlala was allegedly found in possession of Odendaal’s jewellery, a cellphone and a stolen firearm.
Colbert Novela testified that he and two colleagues were on their way home in the Lynnwood area when they saw Matlala, dressed in a Springbok rugby jersey, strangling a woman while another man was searching her bag.
When they stopped to ask what the men were doing, they were told to ”voetsek [leave]”. They informed a security guard of the incident and went looking for the woman’s attackers.
When they saw Matlala, they stopped, but he pointed a firearm at them and opened their truck door.
The workers armed themselves with stones and a shovel. Novela threw a stone at Matlala when he tried to fire a shot, and Matlala then fired a shot into the ground. Novela’s colleague also hit Matlala on the head with a shovel.
Novela confiscated Matlala’s firearm when it fell on the ground and later handed the weapon to the police, who were summoned to the scene by bystanders.
Counsel for Matlala, Herman Alberts, put it to Novela that his client was walking in the street when he was suddenly confronted and accused of robbing a woman.
Matlala claimed one of the men had produced a firearm and the other two had attacked him with a shovel and stones for no reason.
Inspector Sipho Madonsela said he had personally searched Matlala and found an earring, a woman’s watch, a bangle, a ring and car keys in his pockets.
Constable David Mogorego testified that he had later also found a cellphone in Matlala’s underpants.
Both police officers denied claims by Matlala that he was unconscious after he was attacked with a shovel and only came to in the police cells. They said he had an injury to his head, for which he was treated, but was able to talk to them.
Odendaal’s husband had earlier identified some of the items allegedly found in Matlala’s possession as belonging to his wife.
Matlala and Jacob Tshepo Dithung (29) have denied guilt on 15 charges, including murdering and attempting to rape Odendaal, attempting to murder three-year-old Alphiner Ndalana during a house robbery just a few doors down, and murdering Wilson Mapadahanya on a Lynnwood street three days earlier.
The trial will continue on Monday. — Sapa