The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed a life imprisonment term imposed on a murder accused, Molathiwa “Scratch” Ezekiel Tlhabakwane (29) by the Wolmaransstad Regional Court on Wednesday, 31 August 2022.
The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
Tlhabakwane was found guilty of murder after stabbing Tumelo Simon Thipampeng (24) numerous times with a knife on Thursday, 2 November 2017 at 17:00 just outside Wolmaransstad, next to the bridge on the N12, during a fight amongst members of two rival gangs known as Enemy and SVK.
The accused, who was a member of the Enemy gang, handed himself over to the police after the incident. He was denied bail and has been in detention since his arrest until he was sentenced.
The Provincial Commissioner lauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Itumeleng Seboco of the Wolmaransstad Detectives for his excellent investigative work that resulted in the conviction. Lieutenant General Kwena also thanked all other role players including prosecution for their collaboration that led to the success and pointed out that the sentence will certainly send a clear message that those who commit crime will pay for their evil deeds.
