Limpopo SAPS commissioner welcomes sentences handed to three convicted murders

POLOKWANE – Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the long jail terms which were handed down to three convicted murderers.

The accused, David Machaba (25), Thabang Mokgawa (28) and Pangweni Lekaba (32) were convicted of the murder of Frederick Raletjena (30) and attempted murder of Hector Teffo (32) by the Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane. They were each sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for murder and and an added five years’ imprisonment for attempted murder on Friday (November 12), said police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.

The court ordered for the sentences to run concurrently. All accused were further declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The sentences emanated from an incident which occurred in the Senwabarwana policing area on January 14, 2018.

“During the trial, the court heard that the three accused had picked up the victims at Mokhurumela village, for a drink at Driekoppies village under Senwabarwana policing area. Along the way, the accused suddenly stopped at a secluded area and attacked the two men, hitting and kicking them,” Mojapelo added.

The accused also used pangas and sticks during the attack and then thinking the men were dead, dumped them in nearby bushes, he explained.

“The following day, Teffo, managed to crawl to the main road where he was noticed by construction workers who immediately summoned emergency medical services and the police. The second victim, Raletjene, was also located and both men were taken to nearby hospital in a critical condition.”

Police opened a case of murder and attempted murder and the case was assigned to the investigating officer, Captain Albert Manaka who investigated the incident.

Raletjiena later succumbed to his injuries, while Teffo survived the ordeal and was able to give the police a statement and positively identify the suspects. The three accused were arrested shortly afterwards.