MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR PREMEDITATED MURDER
The Pretoria High Court sentenced a man, Dingaan Solomon Moloi (39), from Letlhakeneng in Brits to life imprisonment for killing his 29-year-old girlfriend, Mothomang Masienyane. The Judge gave an order of a search and seizure of firearms and ammunition at Moloi’s premises, and that he be deemed unfit to possess a firearm. She further ordered that the family of the deceased be informed and can make representations should Moloi be eligible for parole.
On 08 March 2022, Moloi went to a stranger’s house to ask for assistance because the deceased fell on the road while they were on their way to his parental home. The man at the house asked Moloi to bring the deceased over, to check what was wrong, when he arrived with the deceased, it was discovered that she was dead. The police were called, and when they arrived went to Moloi’s place of residence he shared with the deceased. Upon arrival, they found blood stains in and around the house, Moloi was then taken in for questioning and later released. However, he was arrested again on 22 July 2023 after DNA evidence linked him to the offence.
In court, Moloi admitted to assaulting the deceased but denied killing her. Through his attorney, Moloi asked the court to show mercy when imposing a sentence and asked the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, stating that Moloi was a suitable candidate for rehabilitation. However, the prosecutor Advocate Thembile Nyakama provided the court with circumstantial evidence, that proved that indeed Moloi killed the deceased. She further told the court that Masienyane died because of blunt force multiple chests and abdominal and head injuries. The deceased died a painful death, she had 11 fractured ribs, and multiple wounds on her body, her injuries were likened to that of a car crash she added.
Moreover, Moloi showed no remorse for the offence and failed to take the court into its confidence by continually denying killing his girlfriend. Therefore, due to the seriousness of the offence of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBV), Nyakama asked the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence. In the victim impact statements (VIS) prepared by the court preparation officer Lebogang Lebese, which was handed in, in court, the family members of the deceased said the passing of their loved one hurt them, and the deceased kids aged 8 and 2 years. The 8-year-old child struggles in school as a result of her mother’s passing.
In her sentencing Judge Muzhelele stated that Moloi did not show remorse, he disregarded the right to life of the deceased by cruelly taking her life. Furthermore, she hopes the sentence given will encourage victims of GBV to report, not suffer in silence but know that justice will be served. Moreover, the court cannot restore the life of the deceased but can restore the dignity of those who are contemplating to report. Therefore, she found no compelling or substantial circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence therefore sentence given was appropriate.
