Hefty sentence for Centurion man found guilty of 2018 murder

A Centurion man was handed a hefty sentence in the Pretoria magistrate’s court for the murder of a man following a tavern fight in Olievenhoutbosch in 2018.

The man was sentenced on Wednesday.

“The court imposed a life sentence and direct imprisonment to 38-year-old Mogadi Hlalifang,” police spokesperson Constable Tumisang Moloto said.

Hlalifang and the victim, Thabang Mahoa, were involved in a physical fight at a tavern in Olievenhoutbosch Ext 26 on Sunday, December 2, 2018.

“Following the fight, the accused left the premises and waited for the victim to go home. Shortly after leaving the tavern, while walking home, the victim was attacked and stabbed with a sharp object and left to die in an open field,” Moloto said.

Local police were called to the scene and a murder docket was opened for investigation.

ALSO READ: Alleged hijackers arrested in Olivenhoutbosch

“Investigating Officer Sergeant Mbulaheni Manyuwa was assigned and tasked to investigate the matter,” he said.

Manyuwa visited the crime scene to gather the relevant evidence and obtained statements from witnesses.

“With the local CPF’s assistance, the accused was arrested at his home on the same night and detained,” Moloto said.

Hlalifang was found guilty of the murder on October 28, 2021.

ALSO READ: Cops warn against ‘bank followers’

“The SAPS management is encouraged by the relationship between the residents and the local police which led to the suspect’s arrest,” Moloto said.

Station commander Lieutenant Colonel Gert Gorbett congratulated the investigating officer for his hard work.

Gorbett urged the community to continue working closely with the police to curb crime.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram