The hot sun could not heat up the chill that filled the courtroom when two accused each received a 25 year prison sentence for murder.
Julius Mabone Moshupje (26) and Samuel Makhubela (27) were both found guilty of murdering Moshupje’s cousin in her home in Duvha Park, Extension 9 on May 21, 2015. Sentencing took place in the Circuit Court in Middelburg on Thursday, August 25.
The death of Rejoice Mankala Malukane (33) was a shock to the community and her family, as her cousin instigated her death.
“It was a premeditated murder and the accused took her belongings with force and violence,” Judge Tshifiwa Anthony Maumela said.
Judge Maumela said that both the accused pleaded guilty, after they acted against a defenceless and unarmed female in her home.
Judge Maumela also placed light on the subject, when he read out loud how Malukane was brutally killed at her brand new house. According to evidence presented in court, the deceased gave a call to Moshupje two days before the murder. She happily invited him to her new home which she bought and told him she missed him dearly. She wanted her cousin to be the first to join in her excitement.
The house of Ms Rejoice Mankala Malukane in Duvha Park, Extension 9 where she was murdered by her cousin and an accomplice, on May 21, 2015.
Moshupje had a drug addiction and admitted to it. At the time of his cousin’s call, he was deep in debt due to this addiction and was struggling to finance his addiction.
Judge Maumela also outlined the excited state Malukane was in, and she decided to call Moshupje instead of any other family member. This he stated, was an indication of how Moshupje saw the friendly invite as a chance to brutally murder his cousin. Moshupje also saw Malukane as an answer to his debt and the judge struggled to understand the reasoning of Moshupje.
He then called Makhubela, and offered him R20 000 for his assistance in the murder.
The two friends travelled from Hammanskraal to eMalahleni on May 21, last year. Liqour was bought and evidence proved that Moshupje and Malukane sniffed CAT. Two friends of Malukane arrived, stayed for a while and she saw them out. Upon her arrival back in the house, Moshupje signalled Makhubela that the time has arrived and Moshupje took a hammer and beat his loving cousin. He then realised that she was still conscious, where after he told Makhubela to strangle her with an electric cord.
This also did not work, so Moshupje went to the kitchen, took a knife and slit her throat, just to finish her off.
Malukane owned a Volkswagen Polo and a Ford Fiesta. The two friends took the Polo and drove back to Pretoria, taking Malukane’s television. This they sold for R1 500, where Makhubela received R600, the rest Moshupje used for petrol and buying drugs.
He dropped Makhubela off at home and was assisted by two petrol attendants, who drove back to eMalahleni with him to fetch the Fiesta. He told them that the car belongs to him. The Polo was sold for R9 000, and R3 000 filled the pocket of an unemployed Makhubela. Moshupje then also sold the Fiesta for R4 000, but this money he kept for himself, as he was not duty-bound to share the money with Makhubela. After the sale of the Fiesta, police from eMalahleni got wind of what had happened and Moshupje was arrested on May 26, the same year. He co-operated with police and also led them to his friend and partner in crime, Makhubela.
Judge Maumela said that it is not impossible to deny that both the accused showed remorse and the fact that both pleaded guilty was sensible on their part.
Although Moshupje played a bigger role toward the murder, Makhubela was not on drugs and was in a more positive state of mind than Moshupje.
“He should have known better, and Moshupje was intoxicated at that stage,” Judge Maumela stated.
He also said that Moshupje has a twisted thinking pattern because he held the deceased accountable for his drug abuse and the debt. Moshupje knew he cannot lift himself from his addiction and the mess he was in. He also regarded Malukane as not doing enough and in time he learnt that the person paying for his debt and drugs, just bought a new house.
Moshupje feared she would no longer pay his debt and he would be in bigger trouble. The vicious circle that surrounded Moshupje was that Malukane would settle his debt and he would already be on his way to making new debt.
Judge Maumela stated that Makhubela had not met Malukane before the murder, therefore he had no reason to kill her. She only offered them her hospitality and paid dearly for it.
Moshupje has a B-Com degree he obtained from Unisa and did internal auditing. He also worked at the South African Police Department, but lost his job after he stole petrol cards. He stated that he is aware of the amount of pain he caused both the families and that he did not apply for bail at his bail hearing, as he was not ready to face both the families he tore apart.
Makhubela on the other hand, was unemployed, had a difficult childhood and was raised by a single mom who could not always make ends meet. He left school at an early age and the thought of receiving R20 000 sounded wonderful, as he has a five- year-old-son. He also stated that he suffered from terrible nightmares after the horrific incident and when he could no longer take it, he went to his pastor, without confessing what he did. He also considered telling his neighbour what they had done, but decided not to. He eventually handed himself in at the police station after he heard that the police was hot on his trail. He was then arrested on May 28. Since then he has been in custody, his health has taken a turn for the worse.
Judge Maumela described Malukane’s body after the murder as similar to an attack by a pack of wild animals.
“The sighting of the photos is not for the faint hearted. If it was not my job to look at it, I wouldn’t. This act toward a close relative alludes my understanding,” he added.
He also emphasised the risk that women and children take to walk on the street everyday, and we think that we can protect them, but something like this is just a reminder that even your closest relatives can kill you.
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