Makhele Scott

Case identification

• Name: Makhele Scott
• Suspect name given in the case: Makhele Lehlohonolo Joseph Scott (27)

Timeline

• January 2012 — A 13-year-old youth disappeared in the district of Berea in Lesotho.
• July 2012 — Another person went missing from the same village.
• 12 July 2012 — Police responded to a tip-off and searched the suspect’s house, where a Corsa bakkie containing human body parts was found.
• 13 July 2012 — Scott took police to a primary school where human remains were found in toilet pits; Scott was arrested and charged; the matter was set before the High Court.
• 13 October 2012 — Scott escaped from Maseru Central Prison.
• 16 July 2013 — The KZN SAPS Provincial Tracking Team was tasked to locate and arrest the suspect.
• 7 April 2014 — The Tracking Team arrested Scott at a church in Amaoti, Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal.
• 24 April 2014 — Scott made a court appearance to make a bail application, which was denied.
• 15 May 2014 — The case was remanded to this date.

Background

• A 13-year-old youth disappeared in the district of Berea in Lesotho during January 2012.
• Villagers later found limbs, a torso and a head which were positively identified as that of the missing lad.
• In July 2012, another person went missing from the same village.

The offence

• Two counts of murder were involved.
• On 12 July 2012, police responding to a tip-off found that inside the house there was a Corsa bakkie in which two human arms, a leg, a penis and testicles were found.
• These body parts belonged to Kamohelo Mohata, 22 years of age, who had also disappeared.
• After police searched the home, Scott voluntarily pointed out a hacksaw and a box inside the house placed over a huge bloodstain on the floor.
• Scott confessed to the murders.
• Scott also confessed to having cooked and eaten some of the body parts.
• Scott pointed out a shallow grave, where a torso and thigh were found.
• On 13 July 2012, Scott took police to a primary school and pointed out a human head, two feet, lungs, heart and intestines in one of the toilet pits.

Investigation

• A warrant of arrest was issued after Scott escaped.
• An application was made to Interpol in Pretoria for assistance with apprehension because there was a strong possibility that he had fled to South Africa.
• The relevant documentation was forwarded to the KwaZulu-Natal head of Detective Services.
• On 16 July 2013, the KZN SAPS Provincial Tracking Team was tasked to locate and arrest the suspect.
• After months of liaison between Lesotho and South African Police, with the assistance of Interpol South Africa and the use of various innovative techniques, the Tracking Team arrested the suspect.

Arrest

• On 7 April 2014, the Tracking Team arrested Scott at a church in Amaoti, Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal.
• Scott was living on the church premises and playing in the church band.
• Scott was surprised when he was approached by SAPS members and arrested.

Trial

• Scott made a court appearance on Thursday 24 April 2014 to make a bail application.
• The bail application was denied.
• The case was remanded to 15 May 2014.

Outcome

• Scott remained in custody until his court date.

Aftermath / official statements

• The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Riah Phiyega, praised SAPS members involved in tracing and apprehending the suspected murderer.
• General Riah Phiyega said:

  “The tenacity of the SAPS Tracking Team in exploring all avenues in order to trace their suspect is to be lauded. It is important for us to work closely with our neighbours in order to ensure that justice is served and that criminals are not given safe refuge in our country,”

Other details

• Scott was arrested in July 2012 after police received a tip-off connecting him to the disappearance of the 13-year-old boy in Berea, Lesotho.
• Following his arrest, Scott confessed to the murders and added that he had cooked and eaten parts of his victims.
• The case matter was set to appear in the High Court, but Scott escaped from Maseru Central Prison in October 2012.