This after Mojalefa Letele (49) was released on R10 000 bail with strict conditions in the Rouxville Magistrate’s Court earlier this week.  Letele, who is still on suspension, is accused of being the mastermind in the murder and conspiracy to murder Nomsa Stuurman (35). Stuurman was brutally attacked and killed and her colleague, who was pregnant at the time, was stabbed and raped by an inmate Jongikhaya Samsam (38), who was already serving two life terms. Samsam made the damning allegations during his trial in the Bloemfontein High Court that Letele offered him a pair of sneakers and also promised to pay him R100 000 if he takes out Stuurman. Letele’s case was postponed to 25 March 2020. 

Letele was arrested on Thursday 6 February 2020 following a joint investigation by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Department of Correctional Services (DSC). Samsam was sentenced by the Bloemfontein High Court on 31 October 2019 to two life terms for murder, rape and kidnapping of the two Correctional Service Officials. Meanwhile, the Provincial Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane, commended the Provincial Investigation Unit for their resilience and commitment in ensuring that those responsible for this evil, gruesome deed are brought to book.

During Samsam’s trial, a visibly irritated and upset Judge President Cagney Musi questioned the effectiveness of the offender’s rehabilitation programme by the department and questioned why Samsam, who was in jail for serious crimes, was even allowed to clean Stuurman's office. 

Musi questioned whether the department was poking the right holes in its effort to try and rehabilitate offenders with hopes of being integrated back into society.

This as the DCS official, Jimmy Lenong, gave a heartfelt testimony on the devastating impact this incident had on the entire community of the Correctional Facility Centre, in particular, female warders. Musi asked why Samsam, who was already serving two life terms and previously had been charged with Grievous Bodily Harm (GBV) in 2016 and 2017, was let to work in that particular area at the time of the incident. Judge Musi subsequently sentenced Samsam to two life terms in prison for murder, rape and five years for kidnapping.

He said the department, in essence, put the lives of the women in danger by not acting swiftly after the two assault cases against Samsam. The Judge President told Lenong that the department should have realised that the accused was not a desirable person or candidate to be chosen as a cleaner for those offices where he killed Stuurman and raped her colleague.

Last year, Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola opened a wall of remembrance in honour of Stuurman.

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