Life Sentences for Murder of Johannesburg Businesswomen: Justice Served in Limpopo High Court

Nearly four years ago, the South African community was shocked by the brutal murders of two esteemed Johannesburg businesswomen, Makoena Mabusela-Leshabane and Tebogo Mphuti. The execution-style killings took place in Polokwane as the pair searched for business premises. In a recent major legal development, the Limpopo High Court pronounced life sentences for their murderers, affirming the gravity of their heinous offenses.

The mastermind behind this tragic event, Thabo Leshabane, aged 58, conspired with accomplices Mbekelezi Ndodo Buthelezi, 28, Emmanuel Thembelani Dlamini, 33, and Bhekizenzo Sfiso Phiyose, 36. They were sentenced to life imprisonment on two counts of murder. The youngest, Buthelezi, received additional years for possession of firearms and ammunition, highlighting the prepared violence of their crime.

Leshabane's elaborate but ultimately flawed plan began to unravel as evidence emerged. The NPA's Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi cited the pivotal role of CCTV footage in tracking the suspects, leading to their arrest. Even sophisticated attempts to evade capture, such as using toll gate diversions, were foiled through detailed police work involving vehicle tracking and cellphone records.

The family spokesperson, Mmakgabo Ramotshela, earlier misinterpreted Leshabane's hospitalization for poisoning as a stress reaction to his wife's death, not realizing his ulterior motives.

The trial showcased the extent of premeditation involved, including vehicle tracking evidence and a damning confession in which Leshabane specified details necessary for the murder—a level of cold calculation that disturbed many attending the trial.

These revelations were accompanied by poignant accounts, including testimony from Makoena's stepson, who highlighted the ongoing trauma experienced by the children left behind, alongside the broad community impact felt in ga-Matlala, who suffered from the loss of potential community developments and employment opportunities.

Senior state advocate George Sekhukhune emphasized the meticulous planning and emphasized that the defendants' personal circumstances should not overshadow the severity of their crimes. In a potent close to the trial, Judge Geriet Muller decreed direct life imprisonment for the accused and prohibited them from firearm possession—an unequivocal response to such premeditated violence.

This sentence was applauded by Ivy Thenga, the director of public prosecutions, signifying a triumph of justice for the victims and society.