Senior regional magistrate Ronne Rambau, who stands accused of corruption and conspiracy to commit murder, can breathe easily again.

This comes after the Sekgosese Magistrate’s Court reduced his bail conditions a fortnight ago.

Rambau asked the court for a bail reduction on Wednesday, March 16, claiming amongst others that one of the witnesses in his pending corruption case, Capt Dieter Meyer, wants to kill him.

The court ruled that Rambau must still report to the Makhado police station twice a day, but now between 08:00 and 10:00 and 16:00 to 18:00.

Meyer, who had already testified against Rambau in his pending corruption case in Musina, is one of the people whose name appears on Rambau’s alleged hit list. The alleged hit list, compiled in Rambau’s own handwriting, contains the names of nine state officials involved in Rambau’s corruption case.

After the list was discovered and handed to the police, Rambau was arrested on January 15 on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. It is alleged that Rambau had paid two witch doctors R850 and R3 500 respectively to have the people on the list killed.

During last week’s court appearance, the court also gave Rambau permission to leave Louis Trichardt to visit his home in Maxambo Village, as well as to go to Thohoyandou to study. He has to get permission, however, from the investigating officer in the case, every time he wants to leave Louis Trichardt.

The court also indicated that Rambau’s bail conditions will be reconsidered early in July, when the investigation into his conspiracy-to-commit-murder case is finalised.