EASTERN CAPE – SAPS endeavours continues to yield positive results as more lengthy sentences are handed down as a result of quality investigative skills adopted by our dedicated detectives.
The efforts of our investigator D/Cst Olona Mgijima were rewarded when Lehlohonolo Mabea was sentence for:
Count 1. Kidnapping five 5 years
Count 2. Robbery Aggravated 15 Fifteen years
Count 3. Murder thirty 30 years imprisonment sentence to run concurrently.
It is alleged that on the 11 September 2020 the accused, Lehlohonolo Mabea, aged 35 residing at Matatiele proposed a relationship to the deceased lady and she agreed to the request.
It was later determined that the actual reason the suspect proposed a relationship was to rob the deceased of her black Polo Vivo vehicle in order to sell it to a buyer.
During 13 September 2020 the suspect asked to meet with the deceased and she agreed to the request by that time the suspect already planned to rob the deceased of her car.
As they were driving the suspect informed the deceased that he just received a phone call from his friend (who was his co-accused) saying his car had a breakdown.
Upon arriving to assist his friend, the suspect left the car to get help.
As he arrived back the co-accused had already tied the deceased with a rope around her neck and her hands.
The accused assisted his co-accused to tie the deceased and put a cloth in her mouth.
After she passed away they put her body at the back of the boot and drove towards the direction of Mt Frere area between Qumbu and Mt Frere where they dig a hole and put the deceased’s body inside the shallow grave.
On the 14 September 2020 while they were looking for a buyer for the vehicle they were both caught by the SAPS and were arrested.
On further investigation the accused confessed to the police that he robbed the deceased of her car and murdered her and later buried her in a shallow grave between Qumbu and Mt Frere.
Both suspects were charged for kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Both suspects were in custody ever since their arrest and bail was denied.
On the 17 May 2021 the accused person Lehlohonolo Mabea was found guilty as charged by Tabankulu High court.
He was sentenced as follows on the following charges-
Count 1. Kidnapping five 5 years
Count 2. Robbery Aggravated 15 Fifteen years
Count 3. Murder Thirty 30 years imprisonment all sentences count 1 and 2 to run concurrently.
The co-accused will appear in court on Friday 21 May 2021.
The acting District Commissioner Brigadier Rudolph Adolph hailed the meticulous and professional investigation by the investigator and also the collaboration between SAPS and NPA which led to the lengthy jail term .The sentence is the outcome of the SAPS’ unwavering commitment in the fight against violence towards women and children he said.
Source: South African Police Service