DELMAS — The bail application of a 73-year-old man accused of killing Calvin Mothoa has been postponed to 23 April 2026, with the court reserving its decision after hearing arguments on 16 April 2026.
The case has drawn strong reactions from political parties and members of the community. The accused, a resident of the Victor Khanye Local Municipality, appeared in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court, where the State and the defence presented arguments on whether he should be released on bail.
During proceedings, the State opposed bail, outlining reasons why the accused should remain in custody. The defence, however, argued that the accused should be granted bail, relying on an affidavit submitted to the court outlining the grounds for his release.
The court reserved its decision and postponed the matter to allow time to consider the arguments before determining whether bail will be granted or denied.
Speaking after the hearing, community activist and Umkhonto Wesizwe Party member in Victor Khanye, Florah Sitoe (MaNkomo), said:
“The State has provided several valid reasons as to why the suspect should not be granted bail. However, the defence argued that he deserves bail based on the affidavit submitted. We believe those reasons are insufficient.”
She also referenced testimony from the investigating officer, alleging a pattern of racist behaviour by the accused.
“According to the investigating officer, there were several instances where the accused allegedly used racial slurs, including the K-word, and referred to the deceased as ‘Satan’.”
The party also linked the incident to broader concerns about service delivery in the municipality.
“We strongly oppose bail for this suspect as it reflects deep-seated hatred. This matter should also serve as a lesson to the municipality to improve service delivery for all communities,” said Sitoe.
The case has been postponed to 23 April 2026 for the court to deliver its ruling on the bail application.
Community members, as well as various political and social organisations, have vowed to attend the next court appearance in large numbers to hear the ruling. Some have also raised concerns about the accused’s ability to attend court if released, citing that his registered address is more than 400km away from Delmas in the Free State province.
