murder Sam Mbatha court

The three accused of the murder of Sam Mbatha is in court on trial. Photo: Pexels

Deadly lovers’ quarrel leads to 30-year jail term for boyfriend

The accused and his girlfriend had a lovers’ quarrel over another woman and he assaulted her and strangled her to death.

murder Sam Mbatha court

The three accused of the murder of Sam Mbatha is in court on trial. Photo: Pexels

The man who pleaded guilty to the murder of his girlfriend during lovers’ quarrel, theft and defeating the ends of justice has been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.

The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg sentenced Khopotso Danny Mokholobotho for the murder of his girlfriend Tshepiso Maekisa. The murder was committed on 10 January 2021 in Vosloorus.

LOVERS’ QUARREL ENDS IN MURDER

NPA Regional Gauteng Local Division spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane said Mokholobotho pleaded guilty to murder, defeating the ends of justice and theft. 

He was sentenced to 20 years for murder, three years for defeating the ends of justice and seven years for theft. 

“The sentences on the counts of theft and defeating the ends of justice were ordered to run concurrently, with the sentence of the murder charge, resulting in an effective imprisonment term of 20 years,”

added Mjonondwane.

Furthermore, Mokholobotho pleaded guilty to all charges and entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State.

Mjonondwane added that Mokholobotho was in a love relationship with the mother of his child, Tshepiso Maekisa, and Maekisa visited him in Vosloorus on 10 January 2021. 

“They had a fight over a woman’s clothes found in his wardrobe, wherein the accused assaulted Maekisa and thereafter tied a rope around her neck and strangled her. 

“He later, with the assistance of a companion, removed the body from the scene and dumped it in Heidelberg, where it was discovered three days later,” 

said Mjonondwane.

ATTACK SENSELESS, BRUTAL AND UNNECESSARY

Senior State Advocate Victor Mongwane argued that the court should consider the fact that there was a high degree of violence against a powerless woman. 

He further added that the murder was senseless, brutal and unnecessary. He said the interests of the community and that of Maekisa’s family required that offenders like Mkholobotho be dealt with severely by the courts, to protect them from would-be criminals such as the accused.

Acting Judge Ian Cox, ruled that the cumulative effect of mitigating factors such as the fact that the accused pleaded guilty, showed remorse and took full responsibility for his actions, he is a single father to five dependents and suffered great loss as he is responsible for killing the mother of his child,  do constitute substantial and compelling circumstances, warranting a lesser sentence, than the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.

The NPA condemns any form of violent crime perpetrated against women, Mjonondwane added that the NPA further applauds the level of commitment portrayed by investigating officer, Warrant Officer Mphele and Advocate Victor Mongwane, to deliver justice to the Maekisa family.  

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