COUSINS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR LESBIAN MURDER

27 AUGUST 2025

COUSINS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR LESBIAN MURDER

Polokwane, Limpopo - The Limpopo Polokwane High Court has convicted and sentenced former police officer Thabo Moses Mokwana (42) and Modirela Maxwell Mokwana (45) of Motsephiri Village, to life imprisonment for murder, seven years' imprisonment for kidnapping and three years' imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently with the count of murder, and the effective sentence to be served is life imprisonment. The court further declared the accused persons unfit to possess firearms in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges put to them, and the state led evidence of witnesses who testified that on 09 May 2022, the accused forced the deceased, Refilwe Gift Malope, into a motor vehicle and drove off with her. The deceased was then reported missing, and a search was conducted that led to her being found dead in a mine shaft at Benoni, Gauteng province, and her body had already decomposed. The accused were arrested and detained in custody until their trial commenced.

In aggravation of sentence, state advocate Patrick Magoda submitted the Victim Impact Statement of the family members of the deceased, compiled by court preparation officer Morongwe Moifo. They indicated the psychological impact that the death of the deceased had on them, especially because the deceased was killed by the people she knew and trusted. The deceased worked tirelessly to ensure that the members of the LGBTQ+ community were treated with dignity, integrity, and fairness. The state further submitted that the accused violated the right of the deceased to live, and as such, they deserve to be permanently removed from society, especially the accused one, as he was a police officer and his duty was to combat crime.

The National Prosecuting Authority daily prosecutes hundreds of such matters that affect the safety and well-being of our communities and ensure justice for victims of crime. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Ivy Thenga commended the diligent work done by advocate Magoda and investigating officer, Florence Hlahla, from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit.

Issued by:

Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi

NPA Regional Spokesperson

Limpopo Division

Email: mmalabi@npa.gov.za

Cell no: 074 823 3608