In a highly emotional scene at the Thembisa magistrate’s court in South Africa, Fiona Poneo, the aunt of nine-year-old Gomolemo Mavimbela, broke down in tears and left the courtroom when Sekhukhune United midfielder Shaun Mokete Mogaila appeared in the dock.
She did not return to the proceedings, overwhelmed by grief after losing her niece in a tragic car accident.
Mogaila, 29, was appearing in court for the first time following a Wednesday morning collision involving his black BMW and a red Hyundai i10 driven by Gomolemo’s mother, Keo Mavimbela. The crash, which occurred while Mavimbela was driving her daughter and a neighbor’s 13-year-old son to school, claimed Gomolemo’s life at the scene. The young girl was a fourth-grade student at Edleen Primary School in Kempton Park.
Facing charges of culpable homicide, failing to assist at an accident scene, and reckless and negligent driving, Mogaila’s case has sparked public concern. During the proceedings, prosecutor Maxwell Randima explained that the state did not oppose Mogaila’s bail, as his charges are classified as schedule one offenses, and he has no prior convictions or pending cases. Randima also confirmed that Mogaila’s residential address had been verified.
Mogaila’s lawyer, Octavious Magunda, requested a bail amount of R5,000, noting his client’s limited finances. Although Mogaila reportedly earns R40,000 a month as a professional soccer player, he has significant monthly expenses, including R8,500 on car payments, R13,000 on a mortgage, and financial support for his parents.
Magistrate Hlengiwe Malevu ultimately granted Mogaila bail at R20,000 without additional conditions and adjourned the case to February 4 to allow time for further investigation.
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