Life Imprisonment For Murder Of A Legal Practitioner
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Gauteng Local Division, Adv. AndrewChauke, welcomed the sentence of life imprisonment that was handed down by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg on 21 June 2022, in a gender-based violence case against Kabelo Gift Rasepae, for killing his girlfriend in January 2020.
Olive Gobonwana Motsomi, had been in a ten-year relationship with Rasepae when she was stabbed several times at her place of residence. Rasepae thereafter took her to Robinson Hospital in Randfontein, where he told the hospital staff that, he, together with Motsomi, were victims of a house robbery. He left Motsomi under the care of the hospital, alleging that he was rushing back home to attend to their children, that were left unattended when he rushed Motsomi to the hospital. She later that day, succumbed to the stabbing wounds.
Rasepae was arrested by Warrant Officer Coenrad Robertson, on 23 January 2020, whilst in possession of Motsomi’s vehicle in Rustenburg, following him fleeing to the North West province. Robertson meticulously investigated the case,after identifying Rasepae as the first suspect, following information received from Motsomi’s family, that the couple did not have any children and that the accused called the brother of the deceased on Christmas day of 2019, informing him that the deceased had ended their relationship and was seeing someone else.
In aggravation of sentence, Senior State Adv. Patric Mkhari submitted a victim impact statement, authored by the probation officer, Ms Thato Modise, detailing that Motsomi’s mother has since been left traumatised and is now dependent on anti-depressants, as she cannot accept that her child has been taken in such a brutal way. He also argued that society relies on the court system to root out the pandemic of gender-based violence, by removing perpetrators from society. He added that Motsomi was a legal practitioner, that believed in the criminal justice system and that justice should prevail.
Acting Judge Balo, remarked that Rasepae brutally killed Motsomi, in the sanctity of her home and failed to present substantial and compelling circumstances to warrant a deviation from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.
Issued by:
Phindi Mjonondwane
NPA Spokesperson-Gauteng Local Division
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