The Phokeng Regional Court sentenced Thabo Ernest Nkoane to life imprisonment on Wednesday after he was found guilty of murdering his mother and burning her remains inside their home. 

According to the spokesperson of the North West NPA, Henry Mamothame, the incident took place on 22 December 2017 at the Buanja Lefaragatlha Village near Phokeng, where the accused murdered his mother by chopping her into pieces before burning her remains. 

Neighbours and friends of the deceased were surprised by her prolonged absence from work and church and were also shocked by the smoke that came out of the tiled roof of the house on the day she was murdered. 

Mamothame added that the matter was reported to the police, and upon investigating the whereabouts of the deceased on 26 December 2017, her burnt remains were found and Nkoane was arrested and charged with pre-meditated murder. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge but the court denied him bail. Nkoane re-appeared in court on Wednesday and was sentenced to life imprisonment.  

“In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor Obed Molope urged the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. He further indicated how Nkoane infringed on his mother’s right to life, right to equal protection, the benefit of the law, and right to dignity. Magistrate Segakweng Moeng agreed with the state and highlighted that Nkoane is not a candidate for rehabilitation as he is cold-blooded, arrogant, and remorseless, said Mamothame.

On Tuesday 31 January 2023, ANC Member of Parliament, Sibusiso Kula, was denied bail by the Orkney Magistrate's Court after he was charged with the murder of his wife.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys welcomed the court's judgment and further stated that the bail judgment against Kula must be a warning to all men who rape, abuse, and murder women, that they will face the full might of the law. Whilst the ANCWL North West's convenor, Bitsa Lenkopane urged the ANC and its government to come out clear and pronounce itself in a way that will assure the society that it is fighting this GBV pandemic.

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