The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Thabiso Mojapelo, 37, to life imprisonment for murder and a further 10 years imprisonment for theft. Mojapelo was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
According to Gauteng spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Phindi Mjonondwane, the incident took place on April 19, 2022, when Mojapelo went to confront the deceased at Riverpark, where he resided.
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The two friends had committed a crime together the day before and were supposed to share the profits.
An argument broke out between Mojapelo and the deceased, during which Mojapelo fetched a knife from the deceased’s kitchen. Concealing the knife in his jacket, the argument continued, and Mojapelo stabbed the deceased more than 35 times all over his body.
To conceal the crime, Mojapelo covered the deceased’s body with a blanket and stole his friend’s belongings, loading them into the deceased’s vehicle before fleeing the scene. The stolen items and vehicles were valued at approximately R400,000.
During the incident, the deceased’s grandmother was sleeping in her bedroom, unaware of the tragedy unfolding.
Mojapelo later turned himself into the police and pleaded guilty to all charges in court. It was revealed that Mojapelo was not a first-time offender, having previous convictions for theft, robbery, and rape.
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At the time of this crime, he was out on parole for robbery with aggravating circumstances and rape.
The NPA has commended regional court prosecutor Charlotte Lutchmiah and the investigating officer, Sergeant Matlala, for ensuring that justice is served. They hope this sentence will send a clear message that crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in our communities.
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