BLOEMFONTEIN – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Free State has welcomed the Bloemfontein Regional Court’s sentence of life imprisonment handed to Tokello Machechekoane (36) for multiple criminal charges. The court sentenced him to an additional 15 years’ imprisonment on Wednesday, 25 February.
Machechekoane was convicted of premeditated murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and defeating the administration of justice.
Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the NPA in the Free State, said the accused had pleaded not guilty to all charges on 17 February. The harsh sentence followed a gruesome incident on 17 September 2021.
“The court heard that the accused had gone to the home of his former girlfriend, where she was seated outside with her mother and stepfather.
“Upon noticing the accused approaching, the stepfather instructed the young woman to go inside the house.
“The accused confronted the parents and demanded to know her whereabouts.
“Dissatisfied with their response, he produced a firearm and fired two shots at close range, striking the stepfather in the chest and head. The deceased died at the scene,” said Senokoatsane.
He said the mother and the former girlfriend escaped the fatal shooting.
“The mother fled for her safety, while the accused proceeded to fire random shots into the house where his former girlfriend was hiding. Fortunately, she was not physically injured.
“The accused fled the scene and was arrested two days later,” said Senokoatsane.
He confirmed the case had been further aggravated by the accused’s conduct following his initial arrest.
Although he was released on bail in 2021, he subsequently absconded.
“This significantly delayed the finalisation of the case and led to the issuing of a warrant of arrest. The accused was only re-arrested in 2024.”
Senokoatsane said during sentencing proceedings, Regional Court Prosecutor Adv. Amore Coetzee argued strongly for the imposition of life imprisonment.
She further submitted that the accused had acted without provocation, demonstrated no remorse, and carried out the fatal shooting in a calculated and deliberate manner.
“The state further argued that a strong message must be sent that such heinous acts of violence, particularly those arising from domestic-related circumstances, will be met with the full might of the law,” said Senokoatsane.
In aggravation of the sentence, he said, the state handed in a victim impact statement from the complainant in the attempted murder charge.
“In her statement, she detailed the ongoing emotional trauma she continues to endure, as well as the overwhelming guilt she carries, believing that had she not gone into hiding, her stepfather might not have been killed.
“She further highlighted that her younger brother has been left without a father, as the deceased was the sole breadwinner of the household.
“The court took these factors into serious consideration,” said Senokoatsane.
The court imposed the following sentences:
■ premeditated murder: life imprisonment;
■ attempted murder: 15 years’ direct imprisonment; and
■ unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition: 10 years’ imprisonment on each of these counts.
For defeating the administration of justice, Machechekoane was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years.
“The court ordered that the sentences for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition run concurrently with the 15-year sentence for attempted murder. The accused will therefore serve 15 years’ imprisonment, after which the life sentence will commence,” said Senokoatsane.
