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The Pretoria High Court has sentenced Tumelo Mokone (25) and Kagiso Mokone (25) to four life terms each for four counts of murder, 15 years each for robbery with aggravating circumstances, five years each for theft, five years each for possession of a firearm, and an additional five years each for possession of ammunition.
Onthantile Sebati (22), who was a teenager at the time of the incident, was sentenced to 25 years of direct imprisonment each for four counts of murder, 10 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, five years for theft, five years for possession of a firearm, and an additional five years for possession of ammunition.
Sebati was sentenced in accordance with the Child Justice Act, Sections 69 and 77 of the Criminal Procedure Act. The judge ordered that her sentence be backdated to her arrest on 16 December 2021.
Additionally, the Judge ruled that all sentences for the three individuals would run concurrently, and they were declared unfit to possess a firearm. An order for the search and seizure of their premises was also granted.
Sebati conspired with her two male accomplices to murder her family at their home in Mmakau, North West Province. On 6 December 2016, Tumelo and Kagiso Mokone collected her father’s firearm during the day.
That evening, Sebati pretended to dispose of water, but in reality, she opened the gate for her accomplices and handed Kagiso her father’s car keys. Tumelo then entered the house and fatally shot Sebati’s 42-year-old father, 40-year-old mother, 19-year-old pregnant sister, and 6-year-old brother.
The two men fled the scene in Sebati’s father’s car but abandoned the vehicle shortly afterwards when it got stuck in the mud. On 16 December 2021, Sebati turned herself into the police and confessed to the crime, leading to the arrest of Tumelo and Kagiso on 18 December 2021.
Both men also made confessions to the police, detailing their roles in the murders. However, during the trial, all three accused pleaded not guilty and disputed the confessions. After a trial-within-a-trial, the judge ruled the confessions admissible.
Prosecutor Advocate Eric Sihlangu led evidence proving that Sebati had arranged the murder of her family, paying Tumelo and Kagiso R50,000 each for the crime. Kagiso’s fingerprints were also found in the stolen vehicle, further implicating him. During sentencing, Tumelo and Kagiso asked for leniency, citing their age (18 at the time of the offences) and lack of previous criminal records.
However, Adv. Sihlangu asked the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentences, arguing that the seriousness of their crimes, coupled with their lack of remorse, warranted no lesser punishment.
Judge Mudzhelele concurred with the prosecution, noting that despite their young age, the accused had committed heinous acts and posed a significant threat to society. She emphasized that the lack of remorse from the accused indicated a failure to take responsibility for their actions, and therefore, the sentences handed down were appropriate.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentencing.
Pics supplied.
