By Mapaballo Borotho
- A senior state advocate, Lucas Motshabi, remains in custody after being denied bail on charges including assault and violating a protection order.
- He allegedly attacked his wife and caused damage to property shortly after previous charges between them were withdrawn.
- The case has been postponed to May 2026 for further court proceedings.
A senior state advocate attached to the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in Kimberley remains behind bars after his bail was denied.
Advocate Lucas Motshabi is facing charges of contravention of a protection order, malicious damage to property, and assault with grievous bodily harm.
The 42-year-old prosecutor allegedly assaulted the complainant, his wife.
“It is alleged that in November 2025, the complainant, who is the accused’s wife, obtained a protection order against him from the Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court.
In December 2025, both parties opened criminal cases against each other, were arrested, and later released on bail.
The matters were postponed to February 2026, where they both withdrew charges against each other through mediation,” explained the NPA’s spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.
However, Mahanjana says that on 21 February 2026, a few days after the withdrawal of the charges, it is alleged that the accused went unannounced to the residence previously shared by the couple in Pretoria North, despite bail conditions prohibiting his return.
An argument ensued between the two, during which the accused allegedly assaulted the complainant, removed children’s clothing from a wardrobe in the presence of a minor child.
He reportedly damaged the motor gate, deflated all four tyres of the complainant’s vehicle, and left the scene.
He then handed himself over to the police and was arrested on 03 March 2026.
The matter has been postponed to 07 May 2026 for Regional Court screening.
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