A businessman and pastor was sentenced to life imprisonment for the for murder and for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

UNLICENSED FIREARM

Ngwako Elvis Selowa -Makhotoka from Jesus Christ Grace Ministries in Kuranta village in Bolobedu appeared at the Polokwane High Court was also charged with being in possession of ammunition and attempt to defeat the administration of justice.

Limpopo National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said that Selowa -Makhotoka is alleged that to have killed Thabiso Lethube Masie on

07 August 2021. It is alleged that Masie and her friend were driving back home from Shikiming village in Limpopo when they came across the Selowa-Makhotoka and his friend pretended that their vehicle had broken down and needed assistance. "The Selowa-Makhotoka and the deceased were well-known to each other. Masie stopped her car and alighted to find out if the accused is not encountering any challenges with his car and that is when the accused shot her five times. After shooting Masie, 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.

STATE WITNESS

Dzangi said the friend of Selowa-Makhotoka was later turned into a state witness through section 24.

"During the trial, the court heard that Selowa-Makhotoka and his friend went to the tavern to buy some beers. On their return to the pastor’s home, Selowa-Makhotoka told his friend that he had a job to do and he was armed with a firearm. He stopped his motor vehicle, alighted and pretended that their car had a mechanical failure whereas the pastor knew that the deceased will soon be driving along the same road.

"The deceased and her friend emerged driving not knowing that the accused was waiting for them. The deceased stopped her car to find out if the accused is not encountering any challenges with his car so that she can assist him. She then alighted from her car and suddenly the accused shot her several times. She was rushed to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries," she said.

Dzangi said that Selowa-Makhotoka was on the run until two months later when he was arrested at a filling station near Polokwane.

Dzangi said that State Advocate Muneiwa Ratshibvumo argued that contract killing had become very prevalent in our communities and harsh sentences were warranted.

WOLF IN SHEEP SKIN

"She further argued that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence in order to send a clear message to other would-be criminals.

"Judge Maake Francis Kganyago, in sentencing the accused, stated that the deceased was killed by a person whom she trusted. The court further remarked that Selowa-Makhotoka was an evil man who hides behind a pulpit, a wolf who disguised himself in a 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," she 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 (1) year direct imprisonment for attempting to defeat the administration of justice.