POLOKWANE – The Polokwane High Court has sentenced Solly Galane, the ex-boyfriend of the late Phuti Mamabolo, to 10 years in prison for culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving. The sentence was handed down last Wednesday, more than two years after Mamabolo was struck and killed by a vehicle in zone 6 in Seshego, in June 2022.

Galane was originally sentenced to 15 years, with five years suspended, and an additional five years to run concurrently, effectively leaving him with only a decade to serve. The court ruled that the state could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Galane had intended to kill Mamabolo, convicting him of culpable homicide rather than premeditated murder.

A sombre mood filled the courtroom as the judgment was delivered. According to the Lentswe Laka Foundation, Galane showed no remorse when asked for final words to the victim’s family.

The foundation, a victim-empowerment group, criticised the ruling, saying the sentence fails to reflect the severity of the crime or the broader crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.

Spokesperson Maletsema Ramokone explained: “We believe the sentence handed down is too lenient, considering the severity of the crime and the broader crisis of GBVF.

”A young woman’s life was cut short, and her family endured more than three years of trauma, delays and heartbreak, only to be met with a judgment that feels inadequate in delivering true justice. What message does this send to survivors and the broader community? That women’s lives can be stolen, yet the punishment does not match the crime?”

During the trial, the court heard testimony from three witnesses, along with evidence collected during an on-site inspection of the scene. The ruling placed Galane’s actions under negligence rather than intent.