Harrowing details surrounding the murder of a 22-year-old boy who was killed at a drug rehabilitation centre owned by an undocumented Zimbabwean national are expected to be repeated during the bail hearing in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
This comes as Magistrate MC Mphago delivers judgment on whether or not Thato Dikgwatlhe’s alleged killers should be granted bail.
Watson Luandi, who was the owner of the rehabilitation centre called Hope of Achievers Rehabilitation Centre (HOAR) in Limpopo, appeared in court on 23 April in connection with Thato’s murder.
Luandi, who is accused number two, appeared together with Thabang Sello Mokoena, accused number one; Tshegofatso Mabulane, accused number three; Jacob Mashishi, accused number four; and Kgomotso Malebane, accused number five.
Their lawyers have pleaded with Mphago to release them on bail, but state prosecutor Mozane Mangena opposed bail.
When opposing bail, Mangena revealed chilling details surrounding Thato’s death at the centre, which helped former Mamelodi Sundowns talisman Lerato Chabangu and former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Kgaogelo Sekgota kick out their bad habits.
She said that after killing Thato, the accused tried to conceal evidence by stripping off his blood-soaked clothes and burning them. Mangena said that after burning Thato’s clothes, they then washed his body and dressed him in fresh clothes.
She said they then transported his body to Mankweng Hospital under the pretext that he was still alive.
Mangena further said that when they arrived at the hospital, Luandi phoned Thato’s family and told them he was rushing him to the hospital because he was under the weather. A few moments later, he phoned them again and said Thato had passed on. Mangena said hospital staff indicated that Thato was already dead when he was brought to the infirmary.
She also said that if released on bail, the accused would interfere with police investigations, interfere with state witnesses, and are likely to evade trial.
Mangena told the court that Luandi does not have a fixed address and should not be granted bail, as he will most likely evade trial. She said that despite living with his wife in South Africa, Luandi has a family in Zimbabwe and is in the country illegally.
She said that despite arriving in South Africa in 2012, he does not own any property.
“He has been renting places. His permit expired in March 2024. He has no papers to be in this country. From March to July, when he was arrested, he did not have the papers to be in this country and did not even bother to renew his expired permit,” she said.
Mangena further said that if granted bail, Luandi would intimidate witnesses.
She explained that Luandi’s co-accused should also not be granted bail.
After listening to the Mangena’s argument, Mphago postponed the case to 5 May (tomorrow) for judgment.
Luandi and the five accused were arrested by police after they allegedly killed Thato at the facility, which is situated in Segwashi village, outside Mankweng near Polokwane, on 3 November 2025.
According to the deceased’s father, Pule Dikgwatlhe, his son was in good mental and physical health when he was admitted to the facility on 12 October 2025, seeking help for alcohol addiction.
A few weeks after his admission to the centre, he received a call from Luandi saying Thato was unwell and had been taken to Mankweng Hospital. Shortly after that call, Dikgwatlhe said Luandi phoned him again and told him that Thato had passed away.
What raised his suspicion was when hospital staff told him, upon his arrival at the health facility, that Thato was already deceased when Luandi brought him there.
Dikgwatlhe alleged that investigations by private investigators revealed that Thato and other patients were severely assaulted by security personnel at the rehabilitation centre for unknown reasons. He sustained serious injuries and later succumbed to them.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the incident unfolded on 3 November at around 10:00, when Thato and four other patients allegedly escaped from the centre.
A security officer reportedly tracked them down and brought them back. Upon their return, they were allegedly assaulted with various objects, resulting in serious injuries.
Luandi was arrested after a joint operation involving Haenertsburg detectives, Mopani High Patrol, and the Mopani Tracking Team.
The rehabilitation centre was also found to be operating illegally and has since been shut down.
