POTCHEFSTROOM: 03 July 2023 - The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomes the conviction and subsequent sentencing of Tshepiso Mafoko (28) to life and Tseko Maine (35) to 20 years imprisonment by the Schweizer-Reneke Regional Court on Thursday, 29 June 2023.
Mafoko and Maine were found guilty in October 2022, for robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder. The duo’s sentencing emanated from an incident in which they robbed Aobakwe Kgosima (31) in the early hours of Saturday, 10 February 2018 at Amalia. Kgosima who is from Taung was visiting his friend in Amalia when he went to a local tavern. Evidence indicated that the convicts followed Kgosima when he went back to his friend’s place. Kgosima was about to open the door when the convicts approached and dragged him outside the yard where Mafoko stabbed the victim with a knife while Maine took his cell phone and wallet, then fled the scene. A neighbour who witnessed the incident, called the police. The latter called an ambulance and the victim was found still alive and lying on the ground. He managed to identify the suspects who were part of the bystanders and informed his friend who tipped the police. Kgosima was transported to hospital where he died on his arrival. Ensuing investigation, the two suspects were arrested on Tuesday, 13 February 2018, and they have been in custody since their arrest.
The convicts were sentenced as follows:
Tshepiso Mafoko (28)
Count 1: Murder – Life imprisonment
Tseko Maine (35)
Count 1: Murder 20 years imprisonment
Count 2: - Robbery Aggravating both accused were given 8 years imprisonment which will run concurrently with the sentences.
The accused were further declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
Tshepiso Mafoko (28) was also sentenced to 18 years each imprisonment for two counts of rapes that he committed before killing Kgosima. He was linked to two counts of rape after he raped two minors in September 2012 and October 2014.According to information Mafoko, was on parole January 2018, for a case of Housebreaking and theft which he committed in 2017 when he was arrested for the murder case.
On welcoming the sentence, the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the Amalia Detectives and the Prosecutor for working together and to secure the conviction which he said will certainly serve as a deterrence.