Last week the Mogwase Regional Court sentenced Fanie Maphonkolo (29), Tumelo Masisi (37), Neo Lebeloane (29), Aupa Mosesi (35), Goitsemang Khunou (28) and Esrom Mafoko (42), to 15 years for murder and a further 10 years on a charge of attempted murder.
Their conviction emanates from an incident that occurred on December 27 2018 at Ramokala village, where Andries Mabula and Mogomotsi Mojela were taken from their homes to a bus stop, where some members of the community brutally assaulted them on suspicion of having been paid R3000 to kill Maphonkolo and Masisi.
The court ordered that five years from the attempted murder charge should run concurrently with the fifteen years. This means they will serve an effective twenty years of direct imprisonment.
The spokesperson for the families of the two victims stated that it was very tough for the survivor Mabula to get on with his life as he still feared he may be attacked again.
He was even scared to come back to the village because of what happened had caused him more emotions and trauma, and during the trial it was awkward.
He added that those close to the victims appreciated the cooperation between the investigator and the prosecutor for taking this matter seriously. The awkward scenario was created because the surviving victim, in this case, Mabula, had to be taken away to another province while the trial was ongoing.
"Mabula will no longer working. His body no longer functions as he was pelted with stones, steel wires and other objects. As we speak, his kidneys are no longer functioning and what is left in him is just a soul. I kept him in Pretoria to protect and save his life, but in different hospitals. I kept changing them every after four weeks until he came back home," said Mauwane.
He added that no one cared about what Mauwane ate and whether he had access to medical care or received help from the community or tribal office of the Baphalane ba Ramokoka. They don't even ask how we can help the two families or show remorse, and it's just life as usual to them.
"People of Ramokoka failed the two families by letting what happened to take place. Some were even taking videos while someone's child lay in a pool of blood, making it to trend on the Facebook page of Ramokoka Village.
Today I am supporting two families, the late Ramojela had a wife and two kids, and the saviour has siblings depending on social grants. For the love for my best friend, I had to step in to help the two families as the Baphalane ba Ramokoka didn't care.
"I am not satisfied with the sentencing. I want those men to rot in jail, and it is not only them. There are masterminds behind all this. Those in prison must tell the truth," Mabula.
The victims sustained severe injuries from the ordeal and were rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Mojela later succumbed to his death because of the injuries. The surviving victim had to be relocated to another province due to the threats made towards him before the commencement of the trial.
In aggravation of sentence, State Prosecutor William Lebelo urged the court to impose a punishment befitting the crime that will send a strong message that community members should report all crimes to authorities and not take matters into their own hands.
In imposing the sentence, Magistrate Herbert Modiba agreed with the state. He remarked that the accused violated the deceased's right to life, the surviving victim's right to bodily integrity and security, and his right to be free from violence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo, and the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded Warrant Officer Molefe and William Lebelo for their collaboration leading to the conviction. They urged the public not to take the law into their own hands but to report crimes to the authorities.
