Maekisa Family Gets Justice For Senseless Killing Of Their Daughter
The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg sentenced an admitted murderer to 30 years imprisonment. Khopotso Danny Mokholobotho, pleaded guilty to murder, defeating the ends of justice and theft. He was sentenced to 20 years for murder, three years for defeating the ends of justice and seven years for theft. The sentences on the counts of theft and defeating the ends of justice were ordered to run concurrently, with the sentence of the murder charge, resulting in an effective imprisonment term of 20 years. Mokholobotho pleaded guilty to all charges and entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State.
Mokholobotho was in a love relationship with the mother of his child, Tshepiso Maekisa, and Maekisa visited him in Vosloorus on 10 January 2021. They had a fight over a woman’s clothes found in his wardrobe, wherein the accused assaulted Maekisa and thereafter tied a rope around her neck and strangled her. He later, with the assistance of a companion, removed the body from the scene and dumped it in Heidelberg, where it was discovered three days later.
Senior State Adv. Victor Mongwane argued that the court should consider the fact that there was a high degree of violence against a powerless woman. He further added that the attack was senseless, brutal and unnecessary and that the interests of the community and that of Maekisa’s family required that offenders like Mkholobotho be dealt with severely, by the courts to protect them from would-be criminals such as the accused.
Acting Judge Ian Cox, ruled that the cumulative effect of mitigating factors such as the fact that the accused pleaded guilty, therefore showing remorse and taking full responsibility for his actions, that he is a single father to five dependents and suffered great loss as he is responsible for killing the mother of his child, do constitute substantial and compelling circumstances, warranting a lesser sentence, than the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.
The NPA condemns any form of violent crime perpetrated against women and applauds the level of commitment portrayed by investigating officer, Warrant Officer Mphele and Adv. Victor Mongwane, to deliver justice to the Maekisa family.
Issued by:
Phindi Mjonondwane
NPA Regional Spokesperson-Gauteng Local Division
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