BLOEMFONTEIN – Three accused, Teboho Cwele, (26),Lusindiso Hardy (26) and Teboho Lecheko (36) appeared in the Bloemfontein High Court yesterday, 22 October 2020 and were sentenced as follows:
– Cwele to 30 years imprisonment for murder and house robbery but 10 years suspended because he pleaded guilty and will therefore spend 20 years in jail.
– Hardy is sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for theft of motor vehicle
– and Lecheko was handed 8 years’ imprisonment for theft of motor vehicle.
It was discovered during trial that on, 3 February 2019 between 9:00 and 17:00, Cwele went to the victim’s house in Aboretum in Bloemfontein. On arrival he stabbed and killed Johanna Coetzee (69) with a knife with an intention of stealing her Toyota Hilux twin cab.
He then looked for the keys in the house but he unfortunately failed to start the vehicle. He then called Hardy who also failed and Hardy called Lecheko who is a mechanic. The three were enroute to Lesotho where they already found a buyer. On their way they stopped at a tarven in Hobhouse whilst waiting for the buyer to contact them.
The police were alerted on the incident in Bloemfontein and the vehicle was already circulated. An Intelligence driven information was followed and all three accused were arrested.
“The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the good work by the Provincial Organised Crime unit.
