Justice Served in Polokwane: Life Sentences for Murderers of Businesswomen

The Limpopo High Court in Polokwane resonated with the gravity of justice on August 16, 2024, as four men were consigned to life imprisonment for the calculated murder of two prominent Johannesburg businesswomen. Thabo Leshabane (62), a sorrowful addition to the roster was joined by Ndondo Buthelezi (32), Thembelani Dhlamini (37), and Sfiso Phiyose (40), the hitmen he had commissioned to execute his malevolent design.

This case, which had clawed at the hearts of the local community since October 2020, saw its bitter conclusion in the heavy silence of the courtroom as the life sentences were handed down. Every life sentence echoed the shattering impact of the bullets that relentlessly tore through Makoena Mabusela Leshabane and Tebogo Mphuthi on that fateful day.

The additional three-year sentence for Buthelezi for possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition only emphasized the criminal preparation underlying the offence. Meanwhile, Richard Zulu, another suspect, could not face the earthly scales of justice having died in custody.

It was a scene of tragically disrupted camaraderie, as Makoena Mabusela-Leshabane, a Chartered Accountant of repute, and her business partner, Tebogo Mphuti, were assassinated in their Mercedes-Benz while considering new business horizons in Polokwane’s industrial heart. The murderous plot, fuelled by Leshabane’s twisted response to marital discord and his wife’s wish to sever their union, culminated in a cold-blooded contract killing.

Admirably, the indefatigable efforts of the SAPS Provincial Tracking Team saw the swift arrest of the five culprits, including the orchestrator husband. Their determination was a piercing light in the investigation, cutting through the web of deceit.

The trial showcased the state's compelling evidence and harrowing witness accounts of the attack, sealing the fate of the accused. Confessions by Leshabane and his fellow convicts anchored the case, with the court firmly dismissing their attempts at alternative narratives. Judge Gerrit Muller's interpretation of the evidence as irrefutable left no room for doubt concerning the guilt of the accused.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Limpopo, heralded the investigative prowess of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Boshomane and his team. Their exemplary work in solving complex cases reached beyond professional accomplishment; it provided solace to grieving families through the certainty of justice.

The pursuit of justice in the Limpopo High Court has indeed confirmed that no individual, regardless of status or intent, is above the law. With the perpetrators behind bars, the community can take a step toward healing, even as the void left by the deceased remains unfillable.