Gauteng Crime Spree Ends in Prison Sentences for Fake Sex Workers and Accomplices

In a haunting instance of deception leading to tragedy, the streets of Bokfontein near a Sasol garage in Danman were the stage for a criminal ploy that culminated in the death of an unwitting 38-year-old man. Five individuals - Lebogang Tshabalala, Everjoy Sibanda, Lucky Vincent Motholo, Kagiso Alfread Leleme Mathlabe, and Kamogelo Modise - have received their sentences at the Pretoria High Court for their involvement in a grisly sequence of events that began on the evening of 27 October 2020.

The crime unfolded when two of the accused, Tshabalala and Sibanda, masqueraded as sex workers to entrap unsuspecting individuals. With Sibanda and Tshabalala’s deceitful offer baiting their victim, the plot took a dark turn in the nearby bushes as the man, just off work, was ambushed by the accomplices lurking out of sight. The assailants’ insidious actions escalated from false pretenses to outright violence as they forcibly restrained the man, exacted physical harm, and endeavored to drain his financial resources.

The investigation into the man's disappearance, spurred by a worried mother's report to the local police station, led to a harrowing find. The SAPS, armed with information from vigilant security guards who witnessed a pivotal Avanza car on the night of the incident, located the victim’s partially decomposed remains, turning the search into a murder investigation and securing the arrest of four suspects in December 2020, with Kamogelo's capture lingering until the following February.

In court, the severity of the crime was matched by the heavy hand of justice. Lebogang, Lucky, Kagiso, and Kamogelo were handed robust sentences for the robbery with aggravating circumstances and the kidnapping, while Kagiso and Kamogelo received additional sentences totaling 15 years each for the murder. Sibanda's plea, influenced by her pregnancy, resulted in a comparatively lighter yet substantial sentence – a testament to the judicious balancing of justice with considerations of individual circumstances.

Prosecuting state advocate Salome Scheepers, highlighting the Correctional Services Act’s provisions for pregnant women, advocated unwaveringly for the adjudicated sentences, ensuring that the scourge of crime did not overshadow the capacity of correctional facilities to handle nuanced cases.

The conclusion of this court case sends a resounding message concerning the consequences of criminality. With no substantial or compelling circumstances sufficient to sway the court from prescribed sentences, and the irrevocable loss of life at the core of this tragedy, the judicial system in Gauteng has underscored its commitment to serving justice and thwarting crime. In the sobering aftermath, the SAPS and the community at large are reminded of the persistent need for vigilance against deceptions that may cloak sinister intentions.