THE PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER WELCOMES LIFE TERM IMPRISONMENT HANDED DOWN AGAINST MURDER AND KIDNAPPING ACCUSED
POLOKWANE: The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the life sentence handed down by the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday, 27 August 2025 against two accused aged 43 and 45 who were convicted for kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice.
The court heard that the two accused, Thabo Moses Mokwana (43), who was a Police Sergeant based at Benoni Police Station, and Modirela Maxwell Mokwena (45), they kidnapped a 28-year-old woman, Refiloe Gift Malope. The two suspects were seen shoving her into the boot of a sedan at Kgaphamadi village under Hlogotlou policing area on 09 May 2022.
The docket was transferred to Provincial Organised Crime unit, and assigned to Sergeant Florence Concilia Tlhatlha for further investigation.
Following investigation, the duo was arrested during a joint intelligence driven operation that was conducted by the Limpopo Tracking Team, Provincial Organised Crime and Hlogotlou Detectives. The police Sergeant was arrested while at work on Tuesday 21 June 2022 and his accomplice was apprehended at his hideout the following day in Apel policing precinct. The deceased’s body was found dumped into a discontinued ventilation mine shaft in Benoni, Gauteng Province.
“We appreciate the dedication displayed by the investigating officer, the arresting team including everyone participated in the case, until the final decision by the court,” said Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
