The Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane on 17 December 2021, sentenced three accused to double life terms for the brutal murders of two women, Veronica Mahanyele and Lethabo Madigage in February 2018.
Veronica Mahanyele, who was 47 at the time and employed by the Limpopo Department of Land Affairs, was hijacked by the three men in the morning of 9 February 2018, whilst on her way to work. They then murdered her and dumped her body along the Matlala road near Newlands.
The killers then took the deceased’s motor vehicle, a Toyota Hilux double-cab and drove to Seshego and withdrew money from her bank account.
On the same date they then took another woman, Lethabo Madigage who was 21 at the time and raped her. The young woman was later crushed to death with stones.
The trio then put her body in the back seat of Ms Mahanyele’s motor vehicle and set it alight.
The accused were linked to several cases of robberies committed around Polokwane (five armed robberies), possession of stolen motor vehicles in Benoni and Springs respectively. They were targeting hitchhikers on the Matlala road, the R37 road between Polokwane and Lebowakgomo and the N1 road to Gauteng.
The cases were allocated to Constable Mokhepo Vivian Gafane attached to the Provincial Investigating Unit. A Team of Investigators derived from the Provincial Tracking Team and Provincial Investigating Unit was assembled to track down the killers.
On 10 April 2018 members of this Team made a breakthrough when they arrested the three criminals, Kenneth Tumishi Sebushi aged 25, Lesibana Johannes Khalo aged 26 and Lehlogonolo Mabokela aged 30. The three were apprehended at Kalkspruit village, Mashashane outside Polokwane.
The sentences were handed down as follows:
▪️Kenneth Sebushi = 2 life sentences and 60 years imprisonment.
▪️Lesibana Khalo = 2 life sentences and 45 years imprisonment.
▪️Lehlogonolo Mabokela = 45 years imprisonment. He is already serving life sentence for another murder he committed last year.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has greatly welcomed the hefty sentences handed down by the High Court against these brutal murderers and also commended the Investigating Officer, Constable Galane and the Team for cracking all these cases.
