POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane delivered another significant judgement yesterday, Tuesday, in the well-orchestrated, gruesome murder of Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape on 28 December 2023. Judge Gert Muller sentenced the third accused, Mahlodi Melida Mathole (45), a teacher by profession, to 25 years’ imprisonment, suspending eight years of the sentence.

The trial of the remaining two co-accused, hitmen Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto (34) and Michael Sello Molongoane (42), is set to run from 2 to 13 November in the same court. They face charges including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Mashudu Malabi, provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa’s Limpopo, said Mathole will serve an effective 17 years in prison with eight years suspended of her sentence. “Mathole pleaded guilty, and she admitted that she acted in furtherance of a common purpose and that the murder was premeditated,” said Malabi.

Malabi detailed Mathole’s plea in a statement: Mathole explained that following the death of her sister, Paulina, who was the mother of Mologadi, family members believed that the deceased had poisoned her. Motivated by a desire to avenge her sister’s death, she consulted traditional healer Mogotlane and requested “muthi” to kill Dr Mehlape. She later became aware that Mologadi and others were allegedly arranging for armed men to carry out the murder.

Mathole transferred R600 to Mogotlane to cover diesel costs for the Ford Ranger double cab belived was used for transporting the hitmen to Dr Mehlape’s residence. “She contacted Mogotlane and warned him not to target the wrong person because there were two men at the homestead. She identified the deceased as the intended victim. The hitmen proceeded to the deceased’s home and shot him multiple times. He sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head and died at the scene,” said Malabi.

The incident became known as a betrayal of close family ties for the central role two family members, Mathole and Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape (28), played in plotting the murder. Mologadi was the biological daughter while Mathole was the sister-in-law of Dr Mehlape. The first accused, Mologadi was sentenced to life and additional 15 years in June last year on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court heard that Mologadi enlisted the help of various family members to hire a contract killer, agreeing to pay R200 000 for the murder her father.

Also read: Cat Matlala murder trial