The Polokwane Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Tubake Sister Maesela (44) and her partner, Mmamoraba Jacob Mashiba (41), for the murder of Maesela’s husband, Mogokolodi Cleopass Digama (53), which occurred in March 2021.

Digama was a warrant officer attached to the Apel Police Station in Limpopo.

On Monday, the court found the two guilty of having robbed him of his service pistol and vehicle, while he was at a friend’s tuckshop, before they shot him, says Limpopo National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.

“Investigations showed that the deceased had been shot with a pistol in Lerajane village, Mohlaletsi, in the Sekhukhune district, and his vehicle was set alight,” says Malabi-Dzhangi.

Police investigations led them to Maesela, who played the part of the grieving widow at the time, and her partner.

“The deceased’s wife (Maesela) shared a child with her co-accused. Investigations further revealed that prior attempts to poison the deceased had been made by his wife.”

In aggravation of sentence, Senior State Advocate Lerato Mohlaka argued that the court should not deviate from the prescribed sentence for the crime.

She described the murder as ‘senseless, premeditated, and callous’.

“The accused persons had no sense of remorse for their actions. They approached a traditional healer for cleansing and continued their lawless spree by bribing witnesses with money to conceal the death of the deceased,” Mohlaka told the court.

The court also heard that shortly before he was murdered, Digama was heard saying: “My love (referring to Maesela), are you the one who is killing me,” before his wife pulled the trigger three times at point blank range, shooting him in the forehead.

In sentencing, Acting Judge President Ephraim Makgoba sentenced both accused to life imprisonment on the count of murder, five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years for unlawful possession of ammunition.

The court ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.