GAUTENG. – Former soccer player Mokete Sean Mogaila has been found guilty of culpable homicide and failure to render assistance following the fatal collision in Tembisa in which nine-year-old Gomolemo Mavimbela died. The collision occurred on 30 October 2024 in Andrew Maphetoweg.
Mogaila pleaded guilty in the Tembisa magistrate's court and was found guilty on all three counts. Barry Bateman, spokesperson for AfriForum's private prosecution unit, said the guilty verdict is an important step towards closure for the Mavimbela family. According to Bateman, the unit will assist the families of Gomolemo and Thando, who was seriously injured in the same collision, in preparing victim impact statements for the sentencing proceedings. According to his plea explanation, Mogaila lost control of the vehicle, after which it swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle.
Gomolemo, who was a passenger in the other vehicle, died. Mogaila left the accident scene but handed himself over to police later that same day. AfriForum said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) rejected Mogaila's previous plea offer in July after the private prosecution unit lodged submissions with the state on behalf of Gomolemo's mother, Keo Mavimbela, and Carol Khethiwa, Thando's mother. Bateman said Mogaila has not yet given evidence about what led to the collision. The case has been postponed until 17 November to allow the state and defence to prepare the necessary reports for the sentencing proceedings.
Magaboke Mohlatlole, NPA spokesperson, said in terms of section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act that guilt was admitted and the state's facts and allegations were accepted. Mogaila admitted that the vehicle he was driving swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle in which a woman and her two children were travelling. Gomolemo's mother and another thirteen-year-old occupant sustained serious injuries. Alcohol-containing bottles and drugs were found in his vehicle during the police investigation.
Mogaila was found guilty on all three counts. The case has been postponed until 17 November 2026 for sentencing.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
