Two get life imprisonment sentences for separate incidents of murder, rape and robbery
LEBOWAKGOMO – The Thabamoopo Regional Court has sentenced Lefa Bruno Kekana (33) to life imprisonment for killing his mother, Ramatsimela Angelina Kekena (61) at their residence in November 2020.
The court also slapped the accused with 15 years imprisonment for robbery. Both sentences will run concurrently.
It was heard that the accused attacked his mother at their residence in Lebowakgomo Zone S on 9 November that year and demanded money to feed his drug habit. The accused stabbed her mother multiple times with a knife and robbed her of an undisclosed amount of money.
The victim’s body was discovered by other relatives and police were summoned to the scene. A case of murder was opened and allocated to Detective Sergeant Azwihangwisi Michael Magadani for further investigations.
Subsequent to thorough investigations, the victim’s son, Lefa was arrested in connection with the murder and ultimately convicted and sentenced on Wednesday, 10 April.
Meanwhile, Evans Thakgalang Mphahlele (28) was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and a further 15 years for robbery by the same court on 11 April.
The court heard that on 22 August 2016, the accused raped a 16 year-old girl at about 18:50 together with two other men who were never arrested.
The victim was jogging in Lebowakgomo Zone P when three men emerged from behind, threatened her with a knife and dragged her into nearby bushes. All of them raped her taking turns. Thereafter, they robbed her of a cellphone and released her.
She then ran into her neighbours and informed them about the ordeal. They took her to her residence, and the matter was reported to the police.
The cases of rape and robbery were investigated by Warrant Officer Phakiso Gololo of Lebowakgomo Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
One of the accused was traced and positively linked to the cases. During trial, he was found guilty of all the cases against him. Evans was finally sentenced to direct life imprisonment for rape and 15 year for robbery.
The Provincial Commissioner of South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo welcomed the sentences and lauded the investigating officers on the cases for working tirelessly until the victims and their families received well served justice.
