By OBAKENG MAJE
23 December 2025- Two men were sentenced to a combined 40 years imprisonment by the Mothibistad Regional Court for murder. This comes after the accused, Madaka Boikanyo Bless (35) and Nonei Brown Michael (38), killed Itumeleng Mabihi (30).
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Molefi Shemane said thr incident occurred at at a shebeen in Eifell village, Heuningvlei on 28 March 2013, at approximately 11pm. Shemane said the police from Heuningvlei responded to a complaint of murder.
“Upon arrival at the scene, they discovered the body of a man with a fatal stab wound. The deceased was later identified as Itumeleng Mabihi. According to witness testimony, an altercation erupted between Michael and a friend of the deceased.
“When Mabihi attempted to intervene and stop the fight, Michael broke a bottle and stabbed him several times, causing him to collapse to the ground,” he said.
Shemane further said Bless subsequently joined in the attack and also assaulted and stabbed the deceased, while he was lying on the ground. He added that, the police were alerted and both suspects were arrested and charged with murder following an investigation.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended Detective Sergeant Tshepiso Bernard Dioka of the Heuningvlei Detective Service for his thorough and meticulous investigation, which led to the successful conviction. Otola also applauded the detective for removing two violent perpetrators from society and for ensuring justice and closure for the family of the deceased.
The Guardian 