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The Pretoria High Court has recently passed sentencing on a group involved in a sinister scheme that ultimately led to the murder of a 38-year-old man from Brits, whose tragic end came at the hands of individuals he unsuspectingly trusted. This case, which has now reached its conclusion after four years of investigation and legal battles, is a stark reminder of the façades that criminals can assume to carry out their heinous acts.
On the night of the incident in October 2020, Lebogang Tshabalala, 29, and Everjoy Sibanda, 22, stood near a petrol station in the small town of Bokfontein, feigning as sex workers. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reported that their act was a ruse to attract potential victims while their accomplices, Lucky Vincent Motholo, Kagiso Alfread Leleme Mathlabe, and Kamogelo Modise, lay in wait.
The unsuspecting man was approached by the women and misled into believing they were providing sex work. After withdrawing R900 and making some purchases, he returned, only to be led into a trap where the perpetrators assaulted and attempted to rob him, an effort that failed due to his quick thinking in providing a false PIN code.
This series of events culminated in a horrifying discovery. The victim, who was reported missing by his anxious mother after he didn't come home and was unreachable, was found dead in the bushes. A breakthrough came when security personnel at the nearby Sasol garage provided information about an Avanza car seen during the time of the incident. This crucial lead, followed by diligent police work, resulted in four arrests in December 2020, and one additional apprehension in February 2022.
A point of contention arose during the court proceedings when the two women pleaded with the court, citing their pregnancies. The pushback from Prosecutor Advocate Salome Scheepers clarified that pregnant women are provided for within the Correctional Services Act, which includes suitable facilities. Despite the pleas and the presence of a not guilty claim by Motholo, the court remained steadfast to the sentence's severity.
Reflecting the gravity of their crimes, the court handed down significant sentences to the accused. Fifteen years of direct imprisonment each for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and an additional three years each for kidnapping were prescribed. Mathlabe and Modise also received a 15-years sentence for the murder. Sibanda, however, had part of her sentence suspended, resulting in 10 years for robbery and complete suspension for the kidnapping charges. The sentences will run concurrently, and the convicts are now barred from firearms possession, further ensuring public safety.
This case echoes the struggles that the South African justice system faces with such malicious plots and the aftermath they leave. Nevertheless, it is a testament to the perseverance of law enforcement and the legal system in bringing perpetrators to justice and offering some closure to the victims' families, no matter how small.