LIMPOPO – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years’ direct imprisonment by the Burgersfort Regional Court for the murder of his 17-year-old girlfriend in Sekhukhune.

Teen killed in Bothashoek

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the murder occurred in November 2023, at Bothashoek Riverside Section under the Tubatse policing area.

Police were responding to a report of a killed minor when they were led to a one-roomed house, where the body of the 17-year-old victim, identified as Makofane Kamogelo, was found lying in a pool of blood with fatal neck wounds. She was certified dead at the scene.

Boyfriend arrested after investigation

Investigations revealed the teenager was stabbed to death by her boyfriend, Bongani Nelson Rantho.

A murder case was opened at Tubatse SAPS and assigned to Detective Sergeant Dinko Mohlala, whose investigation led to the suspect’s arrest.

The accused was later released on bail while investigations continued.

Court hands down 25-year sentence

During the trial, the National Prosecuting Authority, led by Advocate Petlo, presented evidence in cooperation with Detective Sergeant Mohlala and the Department of Social Development, which compiled a pre-sentence report.

On Tuesday (January 27), the court convicted the accused and sentenced him to 25 years’ imprisonment for murder. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the sentence, describing the killing of a minor by an older partner as cruel and deeply disturbing.