31-YEAR-OLD MALE ACCUSED SLAPPED WITH 27 YEARS JAIL TERM FOR MURDER AND ROBBERY AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
POLOKWANE: Limpopo Division of High Court in Polokwane convicted and sentenced a 31-year-old African male accused, Evans Thapelo Machaka, to 27 years imprisonment for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances on Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
The court heard that on Saturday 5 November, 2022, at the Broekman village Senwabarwana policing area, the accused robbed the victim of his bank card identity card,, assaulted him, and eft him unconscious by the side of Westephalia road and then fled the scene.
The community members discovered an injured male by the side of the road, and they transported the victim to the nearest hospital for medical attention. They then notified the police about the incident, and the police began with the investigations.
Subsequent to his injuries, the victim passed on that same day.
He was identified as Paul Kgwakgwara (69), residing at Broekman village.
The case was assigned to Detective Sergeant Mantjana Ramaphoko, who gathered evidence and managed to arrest the accused on the same day of the incident, 5 November 2022, at Broekman village.
The accused was denied bail and remained in custody until he was found guilty, convicted, and sentenced on the following counts:
Count 1. Murder: 15 years of imprisonment
Count 2. Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 12 years.
Count 2 robbery with aggravating circumstances will run concurrently with count 1 murder.
The accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers, welcomed the court outcome and praised the investigating team’s excellent work.
