LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR KILLING AND DISMEMBERING COUSIN
The High Court of South Africa Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg sentenced Flavio Hlabangwane (26), to life imprisonment for killing and dismembering the body of his cousin and girlfriend, Tshepang Pitse. He was further sentenced to 10 years for defeating the ends of justice and 15 years for violation of a corpse. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the one imposed on the murder charge.
The case relates to the discovery of female body parts inside a fridge in a room rented by the accused person in November 2021. Hlabangwane pleaded guilty to murder, defeating the ends of justice as well as the violation of a corpse. Senior State Advocate Johan Badenhorst accepted the plea in respect of defeating the ends of justice and violation of corpse charges but rejected it on the charge of murder. As Adv. Badenhorst was ready to tender evidence to expand on the allegations of premeditated murder, Hlabangwane changed his plea to plead guilty to premeditated murder.
In his plea explanation, Hlabangwane told the court that an argument over his use of the deceased’s bank card without her permission ensued. He pushed Pitse, who hit the back of her head on the stove. She then charged toward Hlabangwane, who took out a knife and stabbed her several times. Upon realising that he had killed her, he tried to get rid of the evidence by dismembering the arms, legs, head, and torso and thereafter disposed of the head and torso at different locations but stored the limbs in his fridge.
The careless and savage killing of women cannot be normalised and the NPA will continue to advocate for stringent sentences for perpetrators of gender-based violence. Credit goes to Adv Badenhorst and Investigating Officer, Sergeant Nxumalo for ensuring that justice is served.
