Ekurhuleni murderer sentenced to 30 years
Mokgolobotho was found guilty of murder, defeating the ends of justice and theft of a moto vehicle.
Danny Mokgolobotho (34) was found guilty of murder, defeating the ends of justice and theft of a motor vehicle in relation to the murder of his late girlfriend Tshepiso Maekisa (33).
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He was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment by the Palm Ridge High Court on June 13.
According to the investigating officer Detective Warrant Officer Abram Mphele of Vosloorus SAPS, Maekisa left her place of residence on January 10, 2021, to visit her boyfriend and baby daddy at Nombela Street in Vosloorus.
After two days her parents became concerned about their daughter’s whereabouts, they followed up with Mokgolobotho who told them that he last saw her on January 10.
The parents decided to open a missing person’s case at Alexandra SAPS.
Mphele said after receiving the case they partnered with Alexandra SAPS for the investigation.
“We went to the accused’s place in Vosloorus to make a statement on January 12, the same day the case was registered and to hear from him as to when last he saw the deceased.
“We managed to trace the vehicle of the deceased in Alberton. The person who was found in possession of the vehicle told police that he bought the vehicle from Mokgolobotho,” said Mphele.
He said they went with the buyer of the vehicle to the accused’s place and on arrival when the accused saw the person he sold the car to he confessed to the police.
“He said he argued with the deceased on January 10, and during the altercation, he hit the victim (Maekisa) with a stone used as a door stopper several times and strangled her with a rope.
“When he saw that she was no longer breathing he contacted his friend (Simthembile Ntlangano) who helped him to dump the body somewhere in an open veld in Heidelberg.”
Mphele said investigations revealed a body was found and identified as unknown in Heidelberg. He said arrangements were made with the family to identify the body of the deceased.
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“The accused was arrested and charged with a case of murder, defeating the ends of justice and theft of a motor vehicle. He appeared before Boksburg Reginal Court on January 19, where he was denied bail,” he explained.
He said that when the case was transferred to Palm Ridge High Court, Mokgolobotho applied for bail again and the State granted him a R20 000 bail.
The court ordered the sentence to run as follows:
• Count one: 20 years direct imprisonment for murder
• Count two: three years for defeating the ends of justice
• Count three, seven years for the theft of a motor vehicle.
Count two and three will run concurrently with count one.
Challenges
Mphele said challenges involve the family demanding answers from him as the investigating officer.
“You need to liaise with them carefully and avoid giving information to the wrong person,” said Mphele.
“We must make sure that the family are updated according to the court dates and we collect the family from their home and to court till the last day of the case,” he added.
He said sometimes other challenges would be when the case is postponed due to the defence of the suspect, whereby maybe the lawyer of the defence is not at court.
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Successful conviction
Mphele said he is happy with the conviction because in most cases members of the public have lost confidence inthe police.
“This is because most of the cases are not investigated thoroughly.
“We as the members of the police have to make sure that we restore the dignity of the SAPS and to make sure that all the perpetrators are brought to book.”
Mphele urged the public to report every case of domestic violence because such cases can end up in murder.
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