A domestic related incident sadly claimed the life of Ms Phindile Mokoena (50) who perished in the hands of her male companion, Jabulane Lephoto (42) in Standerton two years ago, on 02 May 2021. Lephoto was convicted and sentenced on 17 October 2023 by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court which was sitting in Delmas.
The court heard how the sad event unfolded on that fateful day as Police investigation revealed. It is said that a heated argument ensued between the accused and the victim which finally turned physical. Lephoto is said to have then assaulted Mokoena several times with an object which ended Mokoena’s life. Thereafter he went into hiding until dedicated members of police investigators sniffed him out and arrested him on 02 January 2023.
He was denied bail until his conviction then sentenced to an effective 25 years imprisonment.
The SAPS management in the province of Mpumalanga has welcomed the hefty sentence and appreciated the collaborative efforts by the Investigation team, the Prosecution team as well as the Judiciary that culminated into this commendable sentence which will hopefully serve as a deterrent to other perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence and Femicide.
