NPA WELCOMES 20-YEAR SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING GIRLFRIEND

Swartruggens, North West- The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the 20-year direct imprisonment sentence imposed by the Swartruggens Regional Court on Sipho Lesele (29) for the murder of his girlfriend.

It is alleged that on 12 August 2023, Lesele and the deceased were walking home from a local tavern with their three-year-old child when two mutual friends followed behind them. As they approached the couple, Lesele called out to the friends for assistance, saying that his girlfriend was lying on the ground.

The friends found the deceased lying on the ground wearing only her bra. When they asked Lesele what had happened, he kicked the deceased while she was still lying on the ground, claiming that he was attempting to wake her up.

The two friends offered to assist the couple. One carried the child while the other helped Lesele carry the deceased home. They subsequently left the couple at their residence and returned to their respective homes.

The following morning, one of Lesele’s co-workers arrived at the residence to collect him for work, as was customary. After knocking and receiving no response, he entered through the open door and found the deceased lying on the bed with a swollen face. He checked her pulse and informed Lesele that she had no pulse. Lesele allegedly acted surprised, as though he had only then discovered the deceased’s condition.

The matter was subsequently reported to their employers and the police. Lesele was arrested and later released on bail.

During the trial, Lesele pleaded not guilty and denied assaulting the deceased. He testified that while they were walking home from the tavern, he heard a sound and turned around to find the deceased had fallen while walking behind him. He claimed that the fall caused the injuries to her head, which ultimately resulted in her death.

The State’s expert witness, the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination, disputed this version. The post-mortem revealed blunt-force trauma to the deceased’s head, as well as marks on her body consistent with injuries that could have been caused by an object such as a sjambok, stick, or whip. When asked whether the injuries could have been caused by a fall, the doctor indicated that this would only be possible in circumstances involving a significant impact, such as a fall from a very high building or from a fast-moving vehicle.

Prosecutor Tebogo Mogokonyane presented compelling evidence on behalf of the State and urged the court to reject Lesele’s version. The State argued that Lesele was with the deceased throughout the relevant period and, by his own testimony, had not lost sight of her. He therefore could not provide a credible explanation for the serious injuries she sustained.

The court found that, although there was no direct evidence of Lesele assaulting the deceased beyond the admitted incident in which he kicked her, the circumstantial evidence pointed to him as the person responsible for the fatal injuries. The court considered that Lesele had been with the deceased throughout the evening and into the following morning, had not seen anyone else assault her, and had failed to provide a reasonable explanation for the injuries sustained. He was consequently convicted of murder.

In aggravation of sentence, the State argued that Lesele had shown no remorse. It submitted that he acted as though he was unaware of the deceased’s condition when informed that she had no pulse and continued, during mitigation, to deny responsibility for her death.

The State further argued that violent crimes against women remain prevalent not only within the court’s jurisdiction but throughout the country. It submitted that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting a deviation from the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment and urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence that would serve as a deterrent to like-minded offenders.

The court, however, considered Lesele’s personal circumstances and sentenced him to 20 years’ direct imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The Director of Public Prosecutions for the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the sentence and urged members of the public to refrain from alcohol abuse and violence.

The NPA remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting victims of violent crimes, holding perpetrators accountable and contributing towards the restoration of societal order, where peace, security and harmony are maintained.

ENDS

Issued by:

Lindiwe Mabasa

NPA Communications Officer

North West Division