Phuthaditjhaba, Free State – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the conviction and sentencing of Sello Sebobane (33) by the Phuthaditjhaba Regional Court for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances committed in furtherance of a common purpose. The conviction arises from a violent attack that occurred on the night of 13 December 2013 at Bluegumbosch, near Phuthaditjhaba, in the eastern Free State. The accused pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the effective life imprisonment sentence imposed by the Makhanda High Court, sitting as the Komani Circuit Court, on 38-year-old Lesotho national, Selebalo Mokoena, for the premeditated murders of two men on a farm near Komani. The accused was also convicted of entering and remaining in the Republic of South Africa without valid documentation.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the effective 25-year direct imprisonment sentence imposed by the Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town on a 17-year-old offender convicted of rape, murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances committed against an elderly farm owner in the Little Karoo.

The accused was convicted following a plea and sentencing agreement in relation to the brutal attack on 79-year-old Valerie Enziar of Doring Kloof Farm, which occurred on 14 July 2025.

The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg has postponed judgment in the case against alleged Usindiso Building arsonist, Lawrance Sithembiso Mdlalose (30), to 21 July 2026. Mdlalose faces 76 counts of murder and 12 counts of attempted murder arising from the devastating fire that engulfed the Usindiso Building in Johannesburg on 31 August 2023, resulting in the deaths of 76 people and injuries to several others.

The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge ordered that the trial against Adv Timothy Ramabulana proceed after the state filed a Sec 342A of the CPA for the court to investigate the unreasonable delay caused by the accused. The court ruled in favour of the NPA’s IDAC and the matter was postponed to 20 August 2026 for trial on a running roll.

The state filed this application following several postponements, wherein the accused filed a number of applications since his first court appearance on 17 April 2024.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is engaging with SAPS to expedite outstanding investigations with a view to re-enroll the case as soon as it is reasonably possible. This follows an order by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to strike the matter against the former Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO), Themba Mathibe, off the roll.

By Ms Bulelwa Makeke and Adv Sammy Mogoshi 

As South Africa’s criminal justice system confronts increasingly complex forms of crime, the debate over how to measure prosecutorial success has gained renewed importance. While conviction rates should be interpreted alongside broader justice indicators, they remain a constitutionally grounded and internationally recognised measure of prosecutorial effectiveness, reflecting the NPA’s ability to secure fair and lawful convictions in a challenging environment.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence imposed on three accused who were convicted on three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and contravention of immigration laws.

The Modimolle Regional Court sentenced Ayke Araminda (31) to 20 years' imprisonment, Power Zimba Majeza (30) to 25 years' imprisonment, and Thabiso Seoketsa (39) of Hammanskraal to 15 years' imprisonment. Araminda and Majeza are Zimbabwean nationals.

The Thohoyandou Magistrates’Court has granted R2 000 bail to Tshinyadzo Meshack Mudau (53), a manager under Occupational Health and Safety at the National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) Head Office. The accused is from Tshidzini Mutshetoni village who was arrested by Tshaulu police officials on a charge of malicious damage to property. It is alleged that on 27 May 2026, he partially demolished an outside room under construction at his mother's house after a family dispute. A protection order was also granted against him.

The re-opened inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist Matthews “Mojo” Mabelane commenced before the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg. The re-opening of the inquest follows written authorisation by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development on 29 January 2025 in terms of the Inquests Act.