The man who owns an illegal drug rehabilitation centre where a 22 year-old boy was killed is an undocumented Zimbabwean national .
Watson Luandi is trying to use his in laws ‘s physical address to secure bail as he has no fixed physical address.
Luandi , together with his four co accused appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday April 23 and Thursday April 24 on a charge of murder.
They are accused of killing Thato Dikgwatlhe at Luandi’s drug rehabilitation centre called Hope of Achievers Rebilitation Cenetre ( HOAR) in Limpopo last year.
This is where former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Kgaogelo Sekgota and former Mamelodi Sundowns goal poacher Lerato Chabangu were admitted and helped to think their bad habits.
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, who is accused number five.
The court heard through investigating officer Sergeant Mathebula , state prosecutor Mozane Magena and Luandi’s lawyer Marothi Mawasha that he has no fixed address and that he is an undocumented Zimbabwean national .
Mathebula was the first witness to take a stand after she was asked to verify the addresses of the accused before the court could decide whether or not to grant them bail. Mathebula said she recently visited the address that Luandi provided as his address . She said when she arrived there she found Luandi ‘s in-laws who indicated that it was not his house . She also said the in-lawns also indicated that it would not be acceptable for him to stay with them if he is released from jail a that will be against their culture.
Mathebula further said the other address provided is a home owned by the sister of Luandi’s wife in Rethabile Gardens near Seshego township.
Opposing bail, Mangena told the court Luandi does not have a fixed address and should not be granted bail as he will most likely evade trial. She said despite living with his wife in South Africa, Luandi has a family in Zimbabwe and is in the country illegally.
She said Luandi, despite arriving in South Africa in 2012,he doesn’t 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 he did not even bother to renew his expired permit,” she said.
Mangena further said if granted bail, Luandi will intimidate witnesses.
She explained that Luandi’s co- accused should also not be granted bail.
Presiding officer, magistrate MC Mphago postponed the case to 5 May for judgement on whether Luandi and his co accused should be released on bail.
The Luandi and the five accused were arrested by the police after they allegedly killed Thato at a facility 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 October205, 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 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.
