Picture: Some community members packed the court to the rafters
By OBAKENG MAJE
Two accused who killed a prominent businesswoman and funeral parlour owner, Kgomotso Serei from Cokonyane village, near Taung, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the North West High Court sitting in Vryburg on Wednesday.
Joel Tumo Phaudi (40) and the deceased’s stepson, Lebogang Serei (46) killed Kgomotso in what looked like a business robbery at her funeral parlour in Taung back in 2017.
However, they were arrested on 14 and 15 June 20217 respectively in Rooiwal village, near Taung. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, the duo’s conviction emanates from an incident that occurred on 25 May 2017 at the business premises of the deceased.
“It emerged in court that, Lebogang had instructed one of her stepmother’s employees to lock all doors except the garage door. He said this before the employee in question noticed three men standing not far from the business premises.
“The three suspicious men later entered the premises through the garage door wearing balaclavas and ordered the cashier to kneel on the floor before wrapping her face with a cloth. They then demanded her cell phone before proceeding to the deceased who was also inside the premises,” Mamothame said.
He further said, one of the men was identified as Joel Tumo Phatudi. Mamothame added that, Phatudi was also identified as the culprit who turned the gun on to the deceased and shot her in the head.
“The three men then took two cell phones and a handbag belonging to the deceased before fleeing the scene. The police investigations revealed that, Lebogang had approached one of the employees to find him a hitman to murder his stepmother.
“A witness who refused the proposition to the murder also provided the police with a statement confirming that he was approached by the employee to execute the murder. The same employee confirmed that, Lebogang gave him money to deliver to Phatudi after the funeral of his stepmother,” he said.
The North West High Court sitting in Vryburg, sentenced Phatudi and Serei to life imprisonment for the murder of Kgomotso Serei. They were sentenced to a further 35 years on two counts of robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition.
The sentence will not run concurrently and two of their co-accused were acquitted on all charges.
The state prosecutor, Adv Cain Nontenjwa argued that the court should not deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence as there were no compelling circumstances to do so.
Judge Samkelo Gura agreed with the state and indicated that, the two murdered the deceased to take over her business. Gura also said Lebogang had intentions to inherit the business following his father’s passing.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari together with the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded Adv Nontenjwa and Detective Sergeant Lesley Kgatisang for a collaboration that resulted in a successful conviction.
The Guardian 