BLOEMFONTEIN – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa in the Free State has welcomed the 20-year prison sentence handed to Lefa Petrus Maruping (37), for the brutal murder of Katleho Fesi. The Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced him on 14 July, concluding the case dubbed the “landfill murder”, committed on 16 April last year.

Mojalefa Senokoatsane, NPA spokesperson, said evidence showed both the accused and deceased (27) had lived and worked at the landfill site. The sentencing was secured through evidence despite challenges in obtaining eyewitness testimony due to the transient nature of the landfill community.

Maruping killed Fesi by stabbing him several times after an argument had erupted while they were socialising with friends at a shack where alcohol was sold. Fesi’s body was found at the landfill. A post-mortem confirmed he had died from multiple injuries, including severe blunt-force trauma causing a skull fracture.
Senokoatsane said that Maruping pleaded not guilty, but could not explain why he had sustained no injuries despite alleging he was attacked by armed individuals. “He admitted he could not recall how many times he stabbed the deceased Fesi, as he was angry,” he said.
Senokoatsane said the court found Maruping displayed no remorse, failed to assist the mortally wounded victim, and fled the scene before being arrested two days later.