The owner of Hope of Achievers Rehabilitation Centre, Watson Luandi, is facing an additional criminal charge after the State added a count relating to illegal immigration to the list of offences against him.
The new charge was announced on Thursday, July 9, when Luandi and his six co-accused appeared for the first time in the Tzaneen Regional Court after their matter was transferred from the district court.
Luandi and his co-accused appeared before Regional Magistrate Lamina, who will now preside over the case.
The seven accused face charges of murder, defeating the ends of justice, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm following the death of 22-year-old Thato Dikgwatlhe, who allegedly died after being assaulted at the rehabilitation centre on November 3, 2025.
The court previously heard that Dikgwatlhe and several other patients allegedly escaped from the rehabilitation facility on the day of the incident. They were reportedly chased, apprehended and assaulted with various objects by staff members.
The State further alleges that after discovering Dikgwatlhe had died, the accused attempted to conceal the incident by burning his blood-stained clothes, washing his body to remove evidence of his injuries, and transporting his body to Mankweng Hospital in an attempt to cover up the circumstances surrounding his death.
During Thursday’s proceedings, prosecutor Ramohlola informed the court that the State had added a charge of contravening South Africa’s immigration laws against Luandi.
Previous court proceedings revealed that Luandi, a Zimbabwean national, had allegedly remained in South Africa illegally after his permit expired in 2024 and was never renewed.
In another setback for Luandi, Regional Magistrate Lamina dismissed an application by his legal representative requesting that he be transferred from Haenertsburg Correctional Centre to a correctional facility in Polokwane. The defence argued that the transfer would make it easier for his wife, who lives in Moletji outside Seshego, to visit him.
Luandi, Thabang Mokoena, Jacob Mashishi and Kgomotso Malebana remain in custody after being denied bail on several occasions by Magistrate A.M. Mphago while the matter was still before the district court.
Although Tshegofatso Mabala was granted bail of R5,000, the accused remains behind bars after failing to pay the bail amount.
The remaining accused, Lucky Phoka and Jonas Modiba, are out on bail after being granted release during the early stages of the case.
The matter was postponed to August 5, 2026, for further proceedings in the Tzaneen Regional Court.
Luandi has repeatedly been denied bail after the State, led by then prosecutor Mozane Mangena, argued that he posed a significant flight risk and could interfere with witnesses. The prosecution also informed the court that several witnesses had allegedly received threats, strengthening the State’s opposition to his release.
