Almost four years after the gruesome murder of Makoena Mabusela Leshabane (46) and Tebogo Mphuthi (34) in Magna Via, Limpopo, Thabo Leshabane and his co-accused have been sentenced to two life terms for their roles in the crime.

Sentencing occurred in the Limpopo High Court: Polokwane Division on Friday, where Judge Gerrit Muller accepted that the evidence of the state proved the guilt of all the accused beyond reasonable doubt and found all the accused guilty on two counts of murder.

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says Thabo Leshabane (62), Ndondo Buthelezi (32), Thembelani Dhlamini (37), and Sfiso Phiyose (40) will serve two life sentences each, while Buthelezi received an additional three-year sentence for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

One suspect, Richard Zulu, died in custody.

The victims, chartered accountant Makoena Mabusela-Leshabane and her business partner Tebogo Mphuti, were shot dead – by hitmen hired by Makoena’s husband Thabo – while sitting in a Mercedes-Benz in the Polokwane industrial area, says Ledwaba.

Two cases of murder were registered at the Polokwane Police Station and then transferred to the Provincial Tracking Team.

“On October 21, 2020, they made a breakthrough, arresting five suspects, including the husband of the deceased,” says Ledwaba.

During the trial, the state led evidence of several witnesses, including two people who told the court how they observed three African men approaching the Mercedes-Benz and firing several shots at the women. A man remained in a maroon vehicle, which was used as the getaway car.

“The state was able to prove its case as [it] had overwhelming evidence that implicated the accused. Leshabane and his co-accused also made confessions. The evidence further revealed that the motive for the killing was marital issues and an expressed desire by Makoena to end the marriage, which resulted in her husband arranging a hit,” Ledwaba says.

The court rejected the versions of all the accused, finding their versions not to be reasonable and not possibly true.

“This was besides Leshabane’s claim that their marriage was healthy, which the court equally rejected as not reasonably, possibly true.”

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commended the detective team, led by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Boshomane, for demonstrating meticulous investigation skills.