The Polokwane High Court in Limpopo sentenced Pastor Ngwako Elvis Selowa-Makhotoka, from Kuranta village in Bolobedu, to life last Thursday. Selowa-Makhotoka, who is also a businessman, was found guilty of killing Thabiso Lethube Masie on 07 August 2021. 

HE PRETENDED TO BE FIXING A CAR TO LURE THE VICTIM 

According to Limpopo NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, Selowa-Makhotoka killed Thabiso Lethube Masie on 07 August 2021 on the side of the road. Dzhangi said that Masie and his friend were driving back home from Shikiming village when they came across the Selowa-Makhotoka and his friend pretending to be fixing their broken car on the side of the road. Because Selowa-Makhotoka and the deceased knew each other, Masie stopped her vehicle to see if she could help only to be shot five times by the pastor. After shooting Masie, Dzhangi said the accused fled the scene. "In an attempt to conceal his deeds, Selowa-Makhotoka instructed his friend to mislead the police about the identity of the person who shot the deceased and to clean up the deceased's vehicle to eliminate possible fingerprints and gun residue using methylated spirit," she said.

FRIEND TURNED STATE WITNESS

Later, the friend turned into a state witness, revealing the details of the incident. The court learned that Selowa-Makhotoka had planned the murder and was armed when he pretended to have car trouble, waiting for Masie to arrive. Dzhangi said that state prosecutor Muneiwa Ratshibvumo argued that contract killing had become very prevalent in communities and harsh sentences were warranted. "She further argued that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence to send a clear message to other would-be criminals.'

'A WOLF IN SHEEP SKIN'

Judge Maake Francis Kganyago, in sentencing the accused, stated that the deceased was killed by a person whom she trusted. Kganyago remarked that Selowa-Makhotoka was an evil man hiding behind a pulpit and labelled him a 'wolf disguised himself in sheep skin'. "The murder of the deceased was carefully planned and executed. The accused did not show any remorse. The court also said that although the accused was 29 years of age during the commission of the offence, there was no evidence to show that his youthfulness played any role in the commission of the offence," the judge said. Selowa-Makhotoka was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, five years direct imprisonment for illegal possession of firearm, two years direct imprisonment for possession of ammunition and one year direct imprisonment for attempting to defeat the administration of justice.