POLOKWANE – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Major General Christine Morakaladi, welcomes the three (03) life sentences and sixteen (16) years imprisonment handed down separately to the five (05) accused, by the Mokerong and Waterval Regional Courts, for murder, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, this week.
The three (03) accused, Shigwana Ashley Kekana aged 35, Malesela Philemon Malope aged 24 and Lesetja Cosby Makhafola aged 23 who were calling themselves bokoharm gangster group, were each sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mokerong Regional Court.
This is after the three, attacked a 24 year old man by assaulting and stabbing him with knives, on the 22 November 2017, at about 12:00 at Gamadiba Village outside Mokopane following the accusations that he was belonging to a rival group. They then took the victim to Mokopane Hospital and left him at the gate with serious injuries, without informing the Hospital authorities, unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries before he could be admitted for medical treatment.
The police were immediately notified about the incident and the initial investigations were activated. The case was assigned to Detective Warrant Officer Malesela Kekana of the Saps Mahwelereng Detective Unit. Following his intensive investigations in this matter, the three accused were arrested and positively linked to the murder case and subsequently sentenced.
Meanwhile in Waterval outside Makhado, two (02) accused, Bongani Sithole and Martin Ndou were each sentenced as follows:
Bongani Sithole, was sentenced to eight (08) years imprisonment for possession unlicensed firearm and ammunition and in another separate incident, Martin Ndou, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for attempted murder.
The two cases were assigned to Detective Sergeant Mukhari and Detective Sergeant Mulaudzi attached to the Saps Waterval Detectives Unit.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner has also praised the investigating Officers in Mahwelereng and Waterval Police Stations for working tirelessly until all these criminals are removed from our streets for a long time.
