A 45-year-old man, accused of stealing school shoes, was released on warning at the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court sitting in Tlhabane on Monday.
Mohau Medupe of Sondela informal settlement near Rustenburg, charged with theft of school shoes valued at R290 told the court he was unemployed and could not afford bail even it was fixed at R10.
“I cannot afford R500, as I said before I cannot afford to pay bail even it was as low as R10 or R5. I humbly request the court to release me on free bail (warning). I will not run away from trial I will even take the investigating officer to show him where I rent a room in Sondela,” he told the court after the prosecutor suggested a bail of R500.
He said he survived by doing odd jobs and earns less than R800 per month, he added that it was only him and his son, who is in the Eastern Cape. The rest had passed on.
“It is only me and my son who remained the other had died. I do not know any distance relatives…”
He was released on warning and his case was postponed to February 2, for investigation. Medupe conducted his own defence.
– African News Agency (ANA)
