TZANEEN – Matome Daniel Modiba (41)  has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the attempted murder of his girlfriend. He appeared before the Tzaneen Regional Court and was convicted of shooting the victim, who had been in a romantic relationship with him.

The attack occurred in November 2023, when Modiba waited at the victim’s workplace in Haenertsburg.

Believing she had left him for another man, he confronted her as she alighted from a taxi. Armed with a firearm, Modiba shot her as she tried to seek refuge in his car, then dragged her out and left her at the scene.

Other workers alerted the employer, who rushed her to the hospital. The victim remained hospitalised for three months and was unable to return to her previous employment.

During sentencing, Prosecutor Isaac Mahlangu told the court that the victim continues to endure physical and emotional trauma. Her injuries disfigured her, forced her to lose her job, and left her unable to support her 11-year-old son.

Mahlangu stressed the importance of sending a strong message that gender-based and domestic violence will not be tolerated, highlighting that prescribed minimum sentences act as a deterrent and reaffirm society’s condemnation of such crimes.

Regional Court Magistrate Antoinette Lamminga ruled that there were no substantial and compelling reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, sentencing Modiba to life imprisonment and declaring him unfit to possess a firearm.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) commended the victim for her bravery in coming forward and praised the professionalism of Prosecutor Mahlangu and Sergeant Lesiba Daniel Molepo of Haenertsburg police station for ensuring justice was served.

The NPA reaffirmed its commitment to combating gender-based and domestic violence and holding offenders accountable, emphasizing the sanctity of human life.