The High Court’s North West Division, sitting at the Vryburg Regional Court, sentenced 40-year-old Joel Tuma Phatudi and 40-year-old Lebogang Archibald Serei for the murder of Serei’s stepmother, Kgomotso Serei.

Henry Mamothame, regional spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority in North West, said they were sentenced to a further 35 years on two counts of robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition. The sentences will not run concurrently.

Two of their co-accused were acquitted on all charges.

"Their conviction comes after the murder of Serei’s stepmother on 25 May 2017 at her funeral parlour. It emerged in court that Serei had instructed one of his stepmother’s employees to lock all doors except the garage door. The employee then noticed three men standing not far from the business premises.

"The three suspicious men later entered the premises through the garage door wearing balaclavas. They ordered the cashier to kneel on the floor before wrapping her face with a cloth. They then demanded her cellphone before one of the men, identified as Joel Tumo Phatudi, turned a gun on the stepmother and shot her in the head. The three then took two cellphones and a handbag belonging to the deceased before fleeing the scene."

'Hitman to murder stepmother'

Police investigations revealed that Lebogang Serei had approached an employee to find him a hitman to murder his stepmother. A witness who refused the proposition to murder provided the police with a statement confirming that he was approached by the employee to execute the murder. The same employee also confirmed that Lebogang gave him money to deliver to Phatudi after the funeral of his stepmother.

The state prosecutor, Adv. Cain Nontenjwa, argued the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence as there were no compelling circumstances to do so. Judge Samkelo Gura agreed with the state and indicated that the two murdered the deceased to take over her business. He further remarked on Lebogang's intentions to inherit the business following his father’s passing.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari and the provincial police commissioner, Sello Kwena, lauded Adv. Nontenjwa and detective sergeant Lesley Kgatisang for a collaboration that resulted in a successful conviction.

OFM News