By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Litchtenburg Magistrates’ Court has sentenced Johannes Tuelo (24) and Kamogelo Mokgothu (26), to life imprisonment for murdering a woman and burying her remains in a ditch.
The two were declared unfit to possess a fireman.
It was further established that Tuelo, was serving a life sentence for rape and the court ordered for the two not to run concurrently.
Henry Mamothame
NPA spokesperson said their conviction emanates from an incident that occurred in the early hours of 13 November 2020, in Coligny, where they were seen by a witness taking turns stabbing a female with a knife.
“They also had a spade which they used to bury the deceased’s remains in a ditch.
“The two upon realising that one individual who turned state witness, saw them committing a crime, they confronted her and threatened to kill her if she reports the incident.
“The remains of the deceased were discovered by passer-by community members on 16 November 2020,” said Mamothame.
Mamothame said the matter was reported to the police and the accused were arrested on 13 and 17 December 2020, respectively.
“They pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court denied them bail,” he said.
In aggravation of sentence the state prosecutor, Dibuseng Ntsala, urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment as the accused violated the deceased right to life.
In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Maphango agreed with the state and remarked on the rifeness of gender-based violence and femicide in the country, and that the courts have a responsibility to protect the vulnerable members of society against such perpetrators.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo lauded the prosecutor and the investigating officer for the conviction.
“The rise in femicide cases calls for a vigorous united front in defeating this scourge,” she remarked.