The high court in Johannesburg sentenced Tumelloana Khutlisi (29) and Tebeho Mohapinyana (41) for killing Tello Lefu on November 18, 2021, and Zulunyele Damoyi on November 21, 2021.

Acting Judge Nompumelelo Gusha further sentenced the two accused to 56 years imprisonment after they were convicted of three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft, illegal possession of ammunition, and contravention of the Immigration Act.

On November 18, 2021, the accused entered Lefu’s house in Zamdela, Sasolburg, shot him in the abdomen, and took some of his belongings before they left.

Three days later, Free State NPA spokesperson Phaladi Shuping says the duo entered Damoyi’s shop, shot and killed him.

“They were arrested on November 23, 2021, and were found in possession of some of the items stolen from the deceased.”

“Khutlisi and Mohapinyana denied being involved in the killing of the two deceased, even though some of the witnesses saw them running out of Lefu’s house and Damoyi’s shop after the gunshots. They also could not explain why they were in possession of items taken from the deceased.”

In aggravation, the State Prosecutor, Advocate Dansi Mpemvane, presented a victim impact statement (VIS) facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Kelly Mbasa. The VIS were from Lefu’s wife and Damoyi’s daughter, and they both stated that their deaths affected the families because the deceased were breadwinners.

Mpemvane told the court that the accused did not respect the right to life, which is protected by the Constitution.

“Despite being in the country illegally, the accused committed heinous crimes by killing two innocent men. They, at some point, rented a room from Lefu, and they knew that he had a lot of money because he had retired, and he withdrew his money from the South African bank with the intention of depositing it in a Lesotho bank. Nothing but the minimum sentences as prescribed by law will fit the crimes they have committed, and they must be permanently removed from society, “says Mpemvane.

Judge Gusha sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for each of the two counts of murder, 15 years for each of the three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, five years for theft, five years for illegal possession of ammunition, and 12 months for contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.