The Gauteng High Court has sentenced Hloniphani Trust Sithole, the father of seven-month-old Ntokozo Mokoena, to life imprisonment for her murder. Sithole (30) was found guilty of the crime last week.
KILLED OVER FAILED RELATIONSHIP
According to Phindi Mjonondwane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Sithole had been in a romantic relationship with Ntokozo's mother, and they cohabited in Kagiso on the West Rand until they broke up two weeks before the tragic event. Investigations led by Sergeant Andrew Maswanganyi indicated that on 26'February 2024, Sithole took Ntokozo under the guise of going shopping but failed to return. "The mother reported her daughter missing, and over the next two days, Sithole sent voice messages and photos directing her to the location of the child's body. The police and community members followed these directions and discovered the lifeless body of the infant in an open field," she said.
TRAGIC DEATH AT THE HANDS OF HER FATHER
Paramedics later confirmed that she had died due to strangulation. "In a separate incident on 7 March 2024, Sithole robbed a complainant at knifepoint, stealing their cellphone and wallet. He was later apprehended by community policing forum members, who found him in possession of the stolen items," added Mjonondwane. During the trial, Ntokozo's mother provided a victim impact statement, expressing her deep emotional distress and calling for Sithole to spend the rest of his life in prison. State Advocate Zamikhaya Staffa urged the court to impose a harsh sentence, emphasising the alarming rise in violence against women and children and the need for a strong judicial response. The court agreed, recognising the prevalence of such offences and affirming that the deceased endured a tragic death at the hands of her father. The NPA has expressed its approval of the sentence and reiterated its commitment to combating violence and abuse against women and children. Additionally, the court imposed sentences of five years for kidnapping and 15 years for robbery.
