REPEAT OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR STABBING SCHOOL LEARNER DURING ROBBERY

11 July 2025

REPEAT OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR STABBING SCHOOL LEARNER DURING ROBBERY

Bloemfontein, Free State – The Bloemfontein Regional Court has sentenced Itumeleng Molaoa (27) to 25 years of direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, following a violent attack on an 18-year-old school learner.

On the afternoon of 17 February 2024, the accused approached the learner, who was still in school uniform, at around 15:00 and demanded his cellphone. When the learner resisted, a scuffle broke out. Molaoa drew a knife and stabbed the learner before fleeing with the stolen cellphone.
Alerted by the commotion, community members gave chase, apprehended the accused, and handed him over to the police.

During the trial, Prosecutor Palesa Molangoanyane presented evidence of the accused’s extensive criminal history, which included: Three previous convictions for housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, one conviction for theft, and one conviction for robbery. At the time of the trial, Molaoa was already serving a seven-year prison sentence for a prior robbery conviction.

While the minimum prescribed sentence for the current offence is 20 years, the court exercised its discretion to increase the sentence to 25 years, citing the accused’s persistent and escalating pattern of violent criminal behaviour. The court further ruled that the new sentence will not run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving. In aggravation of sentence, the prosecution submitted that the accused poses a danger to society, has shown no remorse, and is a habitual repeat offender.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence as a strong statement of the justice system’s commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society, especially learners and youth, from violent and repeat offenders.

“The NPA remains unwavering in its commitment to fight violent crime with all its might. The value of human life can never be overstated. Every senseless, violent crime is one too many. We will continue to pursue these cases with relentless determination to ensure justice is served and to send a clear and powerful message: those who commit violent crimes will be held fully accountable. Vigorous prosecution is not only about justice for victims, it is about deterrence and upholding the rule of law,” the NPA said.

Issued by:

Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson – Free State Division
MSenokoatsane@npa.gov.za
073 423 3539