A MAN was sentenced by the Polokwane Division of the High Court on Friday, 21 June for the murder of a woman believed to be his girlfriend.
It was reported that Tlou James Mashita (54) killed Nkedu Merriam Vilakazi (43) by hacking her with an axe at her residence in Tshamahansi Village, Limpopo on 3 September 2016.
Police spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said Vilakazi, who worked at Mahwelereng SAPS as an administration clerk, died at the scene.
He said Mashita then fled the scene in Vilakazi’s grey Nissan NP200 bakkie.
“The victim’s body was later discovered by her daughter who immediately reported the matter to the local police. An immediate manhunt of the suspect was activated and resulted in his arrest in Seshego while driving the deceased’s NP200 bakkie. The accused appeared in court, but his case was provisionally withdrawn by the Mahwelereng Magistrates Court on 13 June 2018.
“The case was reinstated on the roll on 27 November 2023 and transferred to the Polokwane Division of the High Court which commenced with a trial on Tuesday, 18 June until his conviction on Friday, 21 June after the accused pleaded guilty to murder and driving a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner,” said Ledwaba.
Mashita was found guilty on both charges and sentenced to 15 years of direct imprisonment.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the court verdict.
“I’m ecstatic that the perpetrator of this despicable crime was brought to justice and handed a lengthy sentence,” said Hadebe. Daily Sun.
