Ntuthuko Shoba's application for leave to appeal conviction has been rejected by the Gauteng High Court. Shoba was sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2022 and had hopes that a different court would give a different verdict  to that of Acting judge Stewart Wilson. He is the mastermind behind the brutal murder of his eight month pregnant girlfriend Tshegofatso in 2020.

SHOBA OFTEN PROBLEMATIC

Although Shoba wanted the court to believe that he was supportive towards Pule during her pregnancy, WhatsApp messages between the pair proved otherwise.Shoba was often problematic when he had to cater for Pule's basic pregnancy needs, including paying for doctors appointments.He had to be begged by the deceased to support her  because she was unemployed.This was the second pregnancy between the pair and the first one was terminated as at the time they agreed they weren't ready to be parents.

SECOND PREGNANCY

The second time around Pule refused to terminate and this clearly frustrated Shoba. Shoba told the court that his relationship with the deceased was on and off for over three years but wasn't serious. He said whenever they bumped into each other at parties, they would end up spending the night together. Pule's younger brother said Shoba was a womaniser and he often saw him with different women at parties. He said he was afraid to warn his sister because she was in love. At some point Pule's younger brother who was in varsity at the time ,had to use his bursary money to help cater for his sister's pregnancy needs.

NO REMORSE

Shoba had a fiance whom he didn't want to lose, therefore he had to make means to get rid of Pule and this is according to his accomplice Muzikayise Malephane. He was contracted by Shoba to execute the murder for a fee of R70 000.This amount was going to be paid unknowingly from death benefit of Shoba's mother-in-law . Shoba pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and still denies any involvement in the murder of Pule.Acting judge Wilson told the court that not once did Shoba show any sign of remorse for his actions.On Friday under a new defence lawyer Advocate Louis Barnard, Shoba attempted to poke holes in Acting Judge Wilson's sentencing claiming he mainly depended on Malephane's testimony.Photographic evidence, the bogus Macdonald's interview to lure Pule and the issue of Shoba claiming that he only met with Malephane to buy illicit cigarettes was still not enough to give the convict an appeal.