Days after the withdrawal of assault charges against him, a prosecutor went to his wife’s house and allegedly assaulted her, damaged her property and deflated all her vehicle tyres.
This week the high court in Pretoria denied bail for advocate Lucas Motshabi, 42, saying he was a flight risk, his wife feared him and the crimes he allegedly committed were serious. Motshabi is attached the Asset Forfeiture Unit in Kimberley, Northern Cape.
Motshabi was arrested on March 3 on charges of contravention of a protection order, malicious damage to property and assault with grievous bodily harm, said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
It is alleged in November last year his wife, the complainant, obtained a protection order against him from the Pretoria North magistrate’s court. In December, both parties opened criminal cases against each other, were arrested and later released on bail. The matters were postponed to February 2026, when they the withdrew charges against each other through mediation.
It’s alleged on February 21, a few days after the withdrawal of the charges, Motshabi allegedly went unannounced to the residence previously shared by the couple in Pretoria North, despite bail conditions prohibiting his return.
“An argument ensued between him and his wife, during which the accused allegedly assaulted the complainant, removed children’s clothing from a wardrobe in the presence of a minor child, damaged the motor gate, deflated all four tyres of the complainant’s vehicle and left the scene,” said the NPA.
The woman reported the matter to the police and Motshabi later handed himself over to police.
During the bail application, prosecutor advocate Tumelo Letaoana successfully opposed bail based on the seriousness of the alleged offences and the alleged violation of a protection order.
The national director of public prosecutions, advocate Andy Mothibi, said the denial of bail reaffirmed the NPA remains resolute in its mandate to act decisively against all forms of criminality, including domestic violence, and to ensure accountability within its own ranks.
Sowetan
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.