Ditebogo Phalane Jnr's father has called on the criminal justice system to use his son's murder trial to demonstrate what the state is capable of after one of the three men accused of murdering his son during a hijacking was denied bail.
Speaking outside the Pretoria North magistrates court on Wednesday afternoon after Elia Maeko was denied bail, Phalane senior said:
I think the justice system should try by all means to show off. They should show what they really do with such people perpetrators so that it can be a better example for other people to restore hope and faith in the justice system.
Yes, a bad thing happened to us but at least let there be justice or consolation to the family even though it would not bring our son back but to at least show that there is effort that they are taking and they are taking the matter seriously, said Phalane.
The 5-year-old boy was shot and killed while running to welcome his father at their home in Soshanguve last year in May. Days after the killing, three men Maeko, Ali Sithole, and Nido Gumbo were arrested and charged with murder.