By REGINALD KANYANE
18 March 2026 – A man was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Bafokeng Regional Court sitting in Tlhabane for attempted murder. The conviction of the accused, Silvester Oageng Bodigelo stemmed from an incident that occurred in Lethabong village, near Rustenburg on 29 March 2024.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said the investigations led by Sergeant Molefe Kgabo, revealed that an altercation broke out between the accused and the complainant at the accused’s parental home. Gunya said during the incident, Bodigelo went into a shack, retrieved a steel iron and repeatedly struck the complainant on the head while he was seated, rendering him unconscious.
“The accused then poured a dustbin full of garbage over the victim and proceeded to the nearby neighbours to request matches with the intention of setting the victim alight. The neighbours refused and intervened, preventing further harm.
“A case was subsequently opened and the accused was arrested and later released on bail. While on bail, he failed to appear in court and was convicted of contempt of court, for which he was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment,” he said.
Gunya further said during the trial, Bodigelo pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder. He added that the state prosecutor, Zola Mpayipheli, led evidence, including testimony from the medical doctor who examined the victim.
“The court heard that the victim lost his left eye and sustained severe head injuries that resulted in permanent brain damage, leaving him with significant memory loss.
“In aggravation of sentence, the state argued that the attack had devastating and lifelong consequences for the victim, who will no longer be able to enjoy life to its fullest due to his injuries,” said Gunya.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended Mpayipheli and the law enforcement team for their diligent work in securing the conviction and sentence. Mkhari said the NPA remains committed to the prosecution of violent crimes and to ensuring justice for victims.
“The NPA welcomes the sentence of 15 years imprisonment. The court also declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm,” she said.
The Guardian 