The Thohoyandou High Court in Limpopo has convicted and sentenced Daniel George Maluleke (47) and Faza George Ngomane (45), of Lemondokop village, to two life terms and 61 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder and two counts of malicious damage to property.

PLEA BARGAINING

NPA Regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said when the trial started, one of the accused Hluphekha Michael Baloyi entered into a plea and sentence bargain with the state, and he was convicted and sentenced to 22 years imprisonment. "Baloyi was used as a state witness and testified against the other accused. He detailed how they committed these offences," said Malabi-Dzhangi. 

DECEASED ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT

She said the court heard that between July and August 2016, the accused were hired by an old man Samuel Lephale to kill his relative, an elderly woman known as Motlhagi Mashao, whom he accused of practising witchcraft. "Lephale promised to pay them R15 000 of which R5000 was paid as a deposit. Baloyi further testified that on 10 July 2016, they attempted to kill old woman by burning her one-roomed house but she survived," she said. The hitmen tried their luck again on 29 July 2016 and succeeded. Malabi-Dzhangi added that the accused set fire to a five-roomed house where the deceased and seven other people were sleeping. "An 18-year-old boy was hacked to death and the old woman was burnt to death. The other six family members survived the attack," Malabi-Dzangi said. Soon afterwards, the accused including Lephale, were arrested and Lephale died whilst the matter was still in the lower court.

FAMILY DEVASTATED

In aggravation of the sentence, the state Advocate Absah Madzhuta called Mashao's eldest daughter, who told the court that the entire family and community members of Rotterdam and Lemondokop, were devastated and shattered by their loss, and the manner in which their mother and her grandson were killed,  "The daughter said the family is still struggling to fix or reconstruct the house, which was burnt down." Advocate Madzhuta submitted that the accused were involved in serious offences that involved violence, and cases of this nature are very prevalent in the province. He further said that the court should take into consideration that vulnerable people were targeted and that the victims suffered serious injuries because of these offences and a 75-year-old woman and her grandson were killed and burned beyond recognition. During sentencing, Judge Nare Kgomo, said that the accused are not suitable candidates for rehabilitation. "The accused should be removed permanently from the community and an appropriate sentence to be imposed is the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. The accused should not be released on parole before serving 32 and 35 years, respectively," Judge Kgomo said.