MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDER OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND SON
The High Court of South Africa, Limpopo Division, sitting in Polokwane, sentenced David Matjila (45), of Burgersfort, to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Farina Valencia Mahlake and his son, Kgoitsane Mahlake. On the night of 14 August 2021, Matjila went to Appiesdoring Burgersfort, where the deceased persons were staying, upon his arrival an argument ensued between the couple. Later, the accused stabbed his girlfriend 10 times in the neck and further stabbed his son 12 times in the heart with a sharp object. The accused then left both deceased in the pool of blood. The bodies of the two deceased were discovered the following day.
During the trial, Matjila pleaded guilty, in his plea he stated that he saw a text message in the deceased cellphone, which shows that she was talking to a man which made him suspect that she is cheating on him. He first hit her with a bottle of a soft drink and further stabbed her several times. After seeing that she is dead, the accused attempt to kill himself and failed. He then decided to kill the child by stabbing him in the chest.
The court convicted the accused and stated that there was a process of reasoning, that proved premeditation and a life sentence are appropriate on both counts. It further said that the accused didn’t want to feel pain when he attempt to kill himself, but he doesn’t feel pain for the people he killed. The acting Judge Ledwaba has sentenced David Matjila to two life sentences; however, the sentence was ordered to run concurrently.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Ivy Thenga commended Adv. Malebo Maleka and the investigating officer, for ensuring that the gender-based violence and femicide perpetrator receives an appropriate sentence.
