EX-HUSBAND SENTENCED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SABC’S PRESENTER
The Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court has sentenced the former husband of the SABC’s presenter, Dimakatso Folotsi, to an effective seven-year imprisonment, after he was convicted of her attempted murder. Magistrate Spiwo Mazwi sentenced Mackenzie Ratselane for stabbing her then wife, several times and leaving her for dead on 16 February 2021.
Ratselane was also sentenced to three years for unlawful possession of a firearm and two years for unlawful possession of ammunition.
According to evidence presented in court, Ratselane took Folotsi to a secluded place just outside Bloemfontein, forced her out of the car, stabbed her multiple times with a knife and left her for dead. He was arreated a week later in Ennerdale, Johannesburg.
Ratselane’s lawyer requested the court to impose a lenient sentence as a way of giving his client a second chance but the State Prosecutor, Sello Matlhoko would hear none of it. He requested the court to impose a harsh sentence on Ratselane, because he was expected, as a husband, to protect and keep his wife happy.
“The accused stabbed the complainant multiple times and left her for dead. At the time of the incident, his wife was still a presenter at the SABC addressing issues of gender-based violence. He should have supported his wife in addressing those issues because of their prevalence, not only in Bloemfontein, but in the whole country, but he decided to increase the number of GBVF cases by turning his wife into a statistic”, said Matlhoko.
Matlhoko further said that Ratselane’s demeanor in court was not of a person who was remorseful for his actions, but he only shed tears in an attempt to get mercy from the court.
Magistrate Mazwi sentenced Ratselane to nine years for attempted murder, three years for unlawful possession of a firearm and two years for unlawful possession of ammunition. Two years for the sentence of attempted murder were suspended and Ratselane will effectively serve seven years after the magistrate ordered the sentences to run concurrently. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The NPA commends the prosecutor and the investigating officer, Captain Papi Mojaki for bringing justice for Folotsi.
