The Pretoria High Court yesterday found Tumelo Mokone (24), Kagiso Mokone (24) and Onthantile Sebati (23) guilty of four counts of murder, theft, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

Sebati and her two cousins, Tumelo and Kagiso, were found guilty of murdering her father (42), mother (40), eight-month pregnant sister (19) and young brother (6).

Sebati, who was 15 years old when she plotted to kill her family, paid Tumelo and Kagiso Mokone R100 000 for the murders.

According to National Prosecuting Authority Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the state was able to produce evidence that Sebati had conspired with the duo to kill her family members while they were at their home in Mmakau in the North West province.

Mahanjana said on December 6, 2016, the two went to Sebati’s house to collect her father’s firearm.

“In the evening of that same day, the duo returned to the house. Sebati went outside, pretending to dispose of water.”

But, he said, she went to open the gate for the two and gave Kagiso the keys to her father’s car that was parked outside.

Tumelo then entered the house, where he killed the family.

Mahanjana said the two men then drove off in Sebati’s father’s car.

“However, they abandoned the vehicle after it got stuck in the mud a few metres away from the house.”

She said Sebati handed herself over to the police on December 17, 2021, and made a confession which led to the arrest of Tumelo and Kagiso Mokone on December 18.

“After their arrest, the two also made confessions to the police, stating the role they each played the night Sebati’s family was killed.”

However, during the trial, all the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and disputed the confessions. After the trial within the trial, the judge ruled that the confessions were admissible.

Prosecutor Advocate Eric Sihlangu then led evidence that indeed Sebati had organised a hit against her family and paid the two R50 000 each for the job.

Furthermore, Kagiso was also linked to the offence by his fingerprints found in the car.

During the judgment, the judge agreed with the state that it had overwhelming evidence against the three and the state was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Therefore, the three were found guilty of all the charges against them.

Mahanjana said the matter has been postponed to April 16 to 19 for sentencing proceedings.