Mojalefa Stoffel Sebashe, 26, was sentenced to life in prison by the Sekgosese Regional Court in Limpopo, South Africa, for the murder of his girlfriend in 2019.
On Tuesday, November 22, 2023, the accused was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, spokeswoman for the Limpopo police, said in a statement on Thursday that Sebashe strangled his 28-year-old partner to death.
“The court heard that on the evening of December 2, 2019, the accused (Sebashe) strangled his girlfriend at his parental homestead, at Senwamokgope, Vaalwater Village and thereafter dumped her body in the nearby bushes,” said Mashaba.
The body of the dead woman was discovered by a community member the following morning, according to the court.
Police were called at the area, and when they arrived, they opened a murder investigation and opened a case.
According to Mashaba, Sebashe was arrested in connection with the murder immediately after an investigating officer was appointed, but the case against him was provincially shelved pending further police investigations.
“The accused made several court appearances until he was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment on Tuesday, November 22,” said Mashaba.
Meanwhile, Limpopo provincial commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed Sebashe’s conviction and sentencing.
She emphasised that gender-based violence and femicide “have no place in our society.”