TWO LESOTHO NATIONALS RECEIVE TWO LIFE SENTENCES EACH FOR THE FATAL SHOOTING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, has sentenced two Lesotho nationals, Teboho Molapo (29) and Mokhabi Ngoanapudi (39), to life imprisonment and 30 years each for their involvement in the murders of Kgomotso Diale and Tlhoel Daniel Moruti, as well as the injury of three others at the Chicken Farm informal settlement. The pair faced two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, following an investigation led by Sergeant Phungo. On 18 April 2022, community members from Pimville marched to Chicken Farm to address the theft of power cables. The deceased and the injured victims were part of this protest. Upon arrival, the accused, armed with firearms, exited their vehicle, and indiscriminately opened fire on the protesters, resulting in the deaths of Diale and Moruti and injuries to three others.
The accused were arrested three days later. During the operation, police encountered gunfire upon approaching the backyard of the accused’s residence, leading to a retaliatory response where one of the accused was fatally shot. Molapo and Ngoanapudi were then taken into custody, with two firearms and ammunition confiscated.
In a poignant testimony, the mother of one of the deceased described her son, Diale, as an active and helpful member of the community, emphasizing the irreplaceable loss felt by his passing. Senior State Prosecutor, Advocate Khethowakhe Ngubane asserted that the accused displayed no remorse, having declined to testify during the mitigation phase of the sentencing. He reiterated that their actions constituted a severe violation of the law.
The court expressed its condemnation of the accused’s flagrant disregard for the law, highlighting the brutal and senseless manner in which the deceased lost their lives. The sentences imposed reflect the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) commitment to delivering justice for victims and their families.
