Hope of Achievers Rehabilitation Centre (HOAR) owner, Watson Luandi, will not be joining his family for the Easter holidays after he was denied bail at the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, April 2.
Magistrate Mphago denied bail to Luandi and his co-accused before postponing the case to April 23. The accused remain in custody at the Harnetzburg Police Station outside Tzaneen.
Luandi, together with five security personnel from the centre, is facing a murder charge following the death of 22-year-old Thato Dikgwatlhe. The incident allegedly occurred at the Segwashi village-based rehabilitation centre outside Polokwane, Limpopo, on November 3 last year, where the victim was reportedly assaulted.
Thato’s father, Pule Dikgwatlhe, said he had taken his son to the facility to seek help for alcohol abuse, which he said had become a concern for the family.
“All I need is justice for my son, nothing more,” said Dikgwatlhe.
“After three weeks of Thato’s admission at the centre, I received a call informing me that he was not well. While I was still trying to process that, I received another call with the devastating news that my son had passed away.”
Dikgwatlhe said he became increasingly concerned after receiving conflicting information about where his son had died.
“The centre informed me that Thato passed away at Mankweng Hospital, but hospital staff allegedly indicated that he had already died before arrival,” he said.
“That was when I decided to hire a private investigator.”
He further alleged that investigations revealed that Thato and other patients were severely assaulted by security personnel at the rehabilitation centre.
Dikgwatlhe described the decision to send his son to the facility as one he now deeply regrets.
“When I sent my boy to the rehabilitation centre, I never imagined I was sending him to his early grave,” he said.
The 51-year-old lecturer at the University of South Africa explained that Thato had been struggling with alcohol abuse and negative influences.
“As a respected family, his lifestyle became difficult to manage. Even neighbours began referring to him as a ‘nyaope boy’. It was embarrassing, and that is why we sought professional help,” he said.
Dikgwatlhe added that he chose HOAR because of its reputation, claiming it had previously assisted well-known footballers such as Lerato Chabangu and Kgaugelo Sekgotha, who played for top clubs including Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.
“I was wrong to believe the rehab centre would help my son based on its past success stories. I wish I had known better,” said the heartbroken father.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, investigations revealed that the incident occurred on November 3 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. One of the victims succumbed to the injuries at the scene, while others were transported to hospital,” said Ledwaba.
Police further confirmed that on November 12, 2025, a joint operation involving Haenertsburg detectives, Mopani High Patrol, and the Mopani Tracking Team led to the arrest of five suspects on charges of murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). The rehabilitation centre was also found to be operating illegally.
Luandi was later arrested as the sixth suspect in the case.
