KEY POINTS
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Malatjie and Mathiba received life sentences for the murder of Mafogo.
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The court found no reason to reduce the prescribed life sentence.
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State prosecutor Pearl Ledwaba emphasised the seriousness of the crime.
Refilwe Solly Malatjie, 23, and Hlupi Linda Mathiba, 25, received life sentences for the murder of Thabang Theosel Mafogo.
The Lenyenye Regional Court in Limpopo convicted both men for the crime that occurred on December 26, 2019. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed their convictions.
The brutal murder details
The NPA stated that the two men, Malatjie and Mathiba, denied the charges. They argued that Malatjie had an altercation with Mafogo at a tavern during the early morning hours.
The two men reportedly attacked Mafogo, hitting him with open hands and booted feet. They also threw stones at him while chasing him down. After catching up to Mafogo, Malatjie restrained him while Mathiba stabbed him three times in the chest. At the scene, they declared Mafogo dead.
Court’s decision and impact
According to IOL, State prosecutor Pearl Ledwaba emphasised the severity of the murder during sentencing. She stated that it reflected a growing violence problem in Lenyenye and its surrounding areas.
Ledwaba noted that the murder was brutal and unprovoked, with the victim unarmed. The court found no compelling reason to reduce the minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
Advocate Ivy Thenga, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, expressed hope that the sentence would deter others from committing similar crimes. She commended the efforts of prosecutor Pearl Ledwaba throughout the trial.
