STELLALANDER-GANYESA – Constable Ernest Lekwape (34), a police officer attached to the Bray Police Station, appeared in the Ganyesa Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 27 December 2024, to face charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
The charges arise from a violent altercation at a local tavern on Christmas Eve 2024. According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the incident began with an argument between Lekwape and 19-year-old Bokamoso Kontle. Witnesses claim that Lekwape left the tavern to retrieve his firearm and returned to assault Kontle with it. When Kontle’s friend, 21-year-old Tshepang Tshetlhana, tried to intervene, Lekwape allegedly shot him in the back using his service pistol. Both victims were rushed to a local medical facility. Kontle was treated and discharged the same day, but Tshetlhana remains hospitalized in serious condition. Authorities seized a 9mm pistol believed to have been used in the incident and was sent for forensic analysis. Constable Lekwape was arrested in the early hours of Christmas Day and granted bail of R2 000 during his court appearance. The case has been postponed to 18 February 2025 to allow for further investigation. Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, condemned the incident, calling it a breach of trust and professionalism.
“Criminal conduct within the police service is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability,” he stated. The IPID continues to investigate the matter, which has sparked public concern about the behavior of law enforcement officers and the safety of community members in public spaces.
