NPA WELCOMES LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment plus an additional 13 years imposed by the Polokwane High Court on Tatenda Sithole (29), a Zimbabwean national, following his murder conviction, defeating the ends of justice and violating a corpse.

The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment. Sithole was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Sithole pleaded not guilty to all charges. During the trial, the court heard that on 5 January 2024, at Botlokwa, Sithole, who worked as a traditional healer, encountered 16-year-old Modjadji Niccol Thoka after she had left her home to visit a nearby spaza shop.

The court heard that Sithole took Modjadji to an unused house, where she was killed. Thereafter, Sithole and his accomplice, Brian, who had already been sentenced, dismembered her body and concealed the remains at different locations, including in a shallow pit. The State alleged that some of the remains were intended for ritual purposes.

A few days later, members of the community discovered the remains. Subsequent police investigations led to Sithole's arrest.

In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Eric Mabapa presented a Victim Impact Statement compiled by Court Preparation Officer Morongwe Moifo, detailing the devastating impact of the crime on Modjadji's family.

The State argued that the circumstances surrounding Modjadji's killing were particularly cruel and had compounded the family's suffering, including by depriving them of the opportunity to conduct a proper burial. Advocate Mabapa further submitted that the killing of women in South Africa remains a serious concern and that courts must send a strong message that the taking of human life will not be tolerated.

Welcoming the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Advocate Ivy Thenga, said: "It can never be overemphasised how important human life is. We will remain vigorous in our pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers."

The DPP also commended Advocate Mabapa and the investigating officer, Sergeant Sindane of the Provincial Detectives, for their work in securing the conviction and sentence.

Issued by:

Mashudu Malabi

Regional Spokesperson

Limpopo Division