The Mpumalanga division of the high court in Graskop on Tuesday sentenced a 35-year-old man to 20 years in jail for the murder of the mother of his son.
The incident took place in Marite near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga in 2020. Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said in a statement that the man robbed the victim of her personal belongings and then “bluntly” killed her.
“He then concealed her body in the bushes and went into hiding. The accused never informed anyone of his deeds while the family of the woman [who was 32 years old at the time] was worried sick that she never returned home,” said Mohlala.
Worried about the whereabouts of their loved one, the family opened a case of a missing person on September 4 2020 at the Calcutta police station, prompting the police to spring into action.
“Sadly, in the early hours of the morning a day after she was reported missing, her lifeless body was discovered in the bushes [at Marite] by a passer-by.”
Mohlala added that the accused was found hiding at Eighteenburg near Thulamahashe in Bushbuckridge two days later.
Shared Mohlala: “The accused was found in possession of some items belonging to the deceased which included her ID, cellphone, retail cards, as well as her work permit [issued to essential service workers by employers during the level 5 hard lockdown].
“The accused was then arrested and charged for murder, robbery, and defeating the ends of justice.”
The court sentenced him to 20 years in jail for murder, 15 years for robbery, and five years for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences will run concurrently.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela has welcomed the sentence.
“Perpetrators of gender-based violence should know that there is no room for their evil deeds in society,” said Manamela.
“We hope this sentence serves as a deterrence to those who might consider emulating the [killer’s] actions.”
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
