Woman sentenced to eight years for murder

Mahlatsi Mokwena (25), the mother of Mr Mahlangu’s child, was found guilty of his murder but magistrate Mr Hans Combrink, found compelling and substantial reasons to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence, by handing down a lesser sentence.

According to the state prosecutor, Mr Amos Mtsweni, it emerged in court that Mr Mahlangu was killed by a single gunshot fired from his own unlicensed firearm.

The court heard that Mr Mahlangu had publicly humiliated Ms Mokwena on the day of his murder, and the evidence was corroborated by witnesses for the state during trial.

Mr Mtsweni said that he was satisfied with the sentence and that justice had been served, explaining that even the social workers tasked to compile pre-sentence reports, had been generally sympathetic towards the accused.

The father of her first minor child had passed away after which she met Mr Mahlangu with whom she had a second child.

The court found that Ms Mokwena was the sole custodian of both children, since their fathers were both deceased, the latter having been murdered by her.

Mr Mtsweni said that it had been clear from the start of the trial, that it was not going to be a simple walkover with all the mitigating circumstances that emerged.

Mr Mahlangu was however a very popular man, having served the community in his capacity as municipal official for almost 15-years.

The courtroom was packed by traffic officers and former municipal colleagues of Mr Mahlangu, some of whom voiced their surprise and dissatisfaction with the sentence after it was handed down.

Mr Mtsweni said that, after explaining the provisions of the act to Mr Mahlangu’s family comprehensively, they left court satisfied that the sentence was fair.

Despite the short incarceration term handed down by the court, Ms Mokwena will never be able to escape the events which led to the Springtime murder of Mr Mahlangu.

On record, she will forever remain a convicted murderess.