DOUBLE LIFE SENTENCE AND 10 YEARS FOR MAN CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING, RAPE AND MURDER OF A CHILD
By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Pretoria High Court has sentenced Moses Makoso (31) from De Deur to two life terms and 10 years direct imprisonment for premeditated murder, rape and kidnapping of a six-year-old girl, as well as obstruction of justice.
The judge ordered that his name be added on the National Register of Sexual Offenders, and he be declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Lumka Mahanjana,
NPA Regional spokesperson said on 29 April 2021, the minor, her brother, and a friend had gone to the bush in Maboloka, close to Makoso’s house, to get traditional cucumber.
Mahanjana said Makoso called the three children to his house. He then instructed the brother and the friend to go back home to wear shoes. He promised to give them fish on their return. The two boys left, and he then led the little girl back to the bushes where he raped and strangled her to death and set her body alight.
“When the two boys returned to Makoso’s house, they found no one. The boys told the aunt of the young girl what had happened. Later that day, the aunt reported the child missing to the police.
“The community and the family searched for the missing child and only went to Makoso’s house on the following day. They apprehended and handed him over to the police,” she said.
The said on 01 May 2021, after his arrest, Makoso confessed to killing and burning the child’s body. He then pointed out to the police where the incident occurred.
In the pre-sentence report read by the probation officer in court, Makoso denied raping the child; however, he said when he committed the other offences he was under the influence of drugs and that evil spirits told him to kill the minor.
The state advocate Thembile Nyakama told the court that Makoso showed no remorse as he continued to deceive the court about what transpired that day, and he did not take the court to its confidence.
Until now it is unknown how long Makoso kept the child captured, but it is safe to say the child spent her last moments alive in intense fear before her horrific death. The kidnapping was for his sexual gratification. Therefore, she asked the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence, said the judge.
The Judge agreed with the state that Nkome was indeed not remorseful for his actions. He only wanted to be sentenced because he says he was not getting enough food at the awaiting trial cells.
“Furthermore, the only reason he killed the child was because she wanted to go home and not because of evil spirits. Therefore, the sentence given was appropriate,” said Mahanjana.
The NPA welcomes the sentence as fitting in this gruesome case involving a child, especially at this period of the 16 Days of Activism against violence on women and children.
“We commend the police investigating officer Sergeant Julius Nkgoeng of Litlabile SAPS for putting together valuable evidence to help the prosecutor secure the conviction and this sentence,” concluded Mahanjana
Pic supplied.