By OBAKENG MAJE
Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by the North West High Court sitting in the Klerksdorp. Three men, Thabo Thakampana (29), Katleho Ramuthalane (33) and the third suspect who is still at large, kidnapped and shot dead David Mahlapa Sekhola on 14 April 2019 in Klerksdorp.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame, three men were drinking at a local tavern in Kanana Township, however, they decided to go and drink in Klerksdorp CBD.
“So, they then requested David Mahlapa Sekhola, who was operating a public transport service in Kanana to go and drop them in town and agreed to pay R150. Sekhola was with two friends at the time, Mthakathi January Vicane and Fezile Kraai.
“Along the way, the three decided to disembark near Vaal Maseru Bus Depot. In his confession statement, Ramuthalane alleges that upon stopping the vehicle, Thakamphana shot Sekhola in the head and they started to rob him and his friends,” Mamothame said.
Ramutlhalane said they took the victims belonging including the deceased’s Kingdom of Lesotho driving licence, keys, wallet with cash, USB dongles and a cellphone. He further confessed that, he removed Sekhola from the vehicle and kidnapped his friends.
Mamothame said the convicts drove off to an unknown location and two kidnapped occupants, Vicane and Kraai managed to escape when the vehicle approached the railway section.
He said they then ran back to the crime scene where Sokhela was shot dead and found the police already there.
“They subsequently reported the incident and a search was conducted. The vehicle was traced through its tracking device and found at a house in Bophelong location in Vanderbilt Park. Thakampana was arrested while Ramuthalane and the third suspect managed to outrun the police.
“However, Ramuthalane was apprehended in Kanana Township the following day. Thakampana was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, fifteen years in each of the charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, five years for kidnapping, seven years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and three years for possession of ammunition,” said Mamothame.
According to court, the sentences will run concurrently. Thakampana was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Ramuthalane pleaded guilty to robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping. He was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for the offence and five years for kidnapping.
Mamothame said the court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
“The two sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The court also ordered that the one year eleven months he stayed in police custody while awaiting trial be factored into his jail term,” he said.
Meanwhile, Thakampana pleaded not guilty to all charges and his trial was separated. In aggravation of sentence, Adv Benny Kalakgosi urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, equalling life imprisonment.
Judge Andre Pietersen indicated that the courts have a responsibility to promote respect for the law through appropriate sentencing. He described Thakampana as a remorseless individual, whose nefarious action brought enormous devastation to the family of the deceased, as well as the two surviving victims.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo lauded Kalakgosi and Warrant Officer, Menzile Sokhwemba for securing a favourable conviction on all charges.
“Serious and violent crimes need to be rooted out of our communities and we hope this conviction will demonstrate the seriousness in which the criminal justice system intends to deal with such offences,” she said.
The Guardian 