A 16-year-old girl was given an 18-year prison sentence by the High Court of Mpumalanga, which was convened in Middelburg, for her involvement in an aggravated robbery and murder case.
According to the police, the “tragic incident” happened in August 2023 at Mpumalanga’s Loding Village, close to Vaalbank.
Colonel Donald Mdhluli, the spokesperson for the Mpumalanga police, stated, “On August 14, 2024, the court sentenced the accused to 18 years for the murder of Ms. Grace Tebogo Sebothoma, 64, which she committed by stabbing her multiple times then robing her of her personal belongings.”
The adolescent was also given a 10-year sentence for the robbery under circumstances that were more severe.
The two sentences are to run simultaneously, per the court’s direction.
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Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial commissioner of police for Mpumalanga, has applauded the verdict and called for the defense of society’s most vulnerable citizens.
“We believe that this sentence will strongly communicate to young individuals who commit crimes, that they will be held accountable for their actions,” stated Mkhwanazi.
“Take note that one of our strategies within the [SA Police Service] SAPS, is the Youth Crime Prevention Desk, which was established as a platform for young people to get together and engage in issues affecting them,” he said.
According to Monica Nyuswa, a spokesman for the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mkhonto entered a guilty plea in November 2023 and was found guilty of killing the police officer.
“She informed the court that she was living with the deceased (Thwala) in Gedlembane, Pienaar, from January to July 2022, and that they were in a romantic relationship.” Nyuswa stated that she departed for her parents’ house after realizing their relationship was unstable.
On August 2, 2022, the NPA said Mkhonto visited Thwala in Gedlembane. During that visit, an altercation between the two ensued.
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