Court hears that Schalk Pienaar murder-accused is a repeat offender
24 January 2024
Disturbing details about murder accused Tsholofelo Joseph Motsoane’s criminal history have emerged in the Mokopane Magistrates Court where he has applied for bail. Motsoane is accused of the 2022 murder of prominent Mokopane attorney Schalk Pienaar. The accused faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other firearm-related charges and is alleged to have been the driver of the getaway car.
AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit represents the Pienaar family, who approached the unit for support because of delays in finalising the case.
Pienaar was murdered on 19 September 2022 shortly after arriving at home. He was shot ten times in his driveway. Motsoane was arrested the following month and charged with the crime. A second accused was also arrested but charges against him were later withdrawn.
Yesterday (23 January), the state told the court that Motsoane has a criminal record dating back to 2003 and has been found guilty and served sentences for separate cases of attempted murder, robbery and theft. Notably, he has also been found guilty of escaping from custody while he was awaiting trial on two of these cases.