Over six hundred years for Modikwa murderer
The murdered miners whose remains were identified through DNA examination, were Moniccah Mabilo (57), Solomon Komana (37), and Simon Mahlokwane (42), all from Ga-Mahlokwane Village, Johannes Malepe (56) and Ziphora Makuwa (48) from Driekop Village, and Pheta Ranku (58) from Lesotho.
BURGERSFORT – One of four accused in the violent murders of Modikwa Platinum Mine’s workers has been handed a hefty sentence.
Kgaugelo Moime (30) was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for each count of six murders and 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of 48 attempted murders. Moime was sentenced by the Polokwane High Court on Monday, September 30. In total, he was sentenced to 630 years. He pleaded guilty to all six counts of murder and 48 counts of attempted murder.
The sentence comes after an incident that occurred on April 2, 2018 at about 20:00, where a group of workers were travelling on a bus to Modikwa Platinum Mine in Driekop.
“When the bus stopped to pick up other miners, unknown suspects pretending to be mine workers, got into the bus and set it alight, using highly flammable liquids.
ALSO READ:
https://steelburgernews.co.za/252864/driekops-bus-attack/
“Six workers were burned beyond recognition. The perpetrators then jumped out, leaving the bus already engulfed in flames,” said Limpopo SAPS’s spokesman, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, about the incident.
The fiery attack left four men and two women dead and 28 others injured, while a few escaped unscathed.
“Following the horrific incident, a high-level investigation team was established to track down the heartless killers. After two sleepless nights, five suspects aged between 21 and 30 were arrested at different locations. The fifth suspect was released after he could not be positively linked to the incident,” added Ngoepe.
The Limpopo SAPS said the case was allocated to Det Sgt Sydwell Mashele of the Provincial Investigation Unit.
“After thorough investigation by Mashele, the four accused were all positively linked to this incident and subsequently, this first one was sentenced.”
The other three accused, Sipho Khumalo (29), Philemon Makwana (35), and Thabo Mokgala (29) will have their trial in April 2020.
The murdered miners whose remains were identified through DNA examination, were Moniccah Mabilo (57), Solomon Komana (37), and Simon Mahlokwane (42), all from Ga-Mahlokwane Village, Johannes Malepe (56) and Ziphora Makuwa (48) from Driekop Village, and Pheta Ranku (58) from Lesotho.
Peter Maraza, one of the community leaders in Mahlokwane Village, said they accept the sentences. “We are pleased with the sentences handed to Moime, but we wanted six life sentences for the other accused as well. They killed innocent hardworking breadwinners. Some children are orphans because of their stupid and heartless actions.”
