BOTLOKWA, LIMPOPO – A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 17-year-old Motjatji Thoka, whose headless body was discovered in an abandoned house in Botlokwa, Limpopo, in January 2024.

Tatenda Sithole, the second accused in the case, was sentenced by the Polokwane High Court on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

In addition to life imprisonment for murder, Sithole received five years’ imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice and eight years for violating a corpse. Both additional sentences will run concurrently with his life sentence.

Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers, the provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo, welcomed the sentence, commending the investigating officer and other police members for their dedication in bringing those responsible to justice.

Teenager disappeared while going to shop

The case dates back to 5 January 2024, when Thoka went missing after telling others that she was going to a local shop in Mokomene Village, within the Botlokwa policing area.

Five days later, on 10 January, her body was discovered in an abandoned house. Her head had been severed, and her internal organs were missing.

Following an intensive investigation, police arrested two Zimbabwean nationals in connection with the murder.

The accused subsequently pointed out the crime scene and led police to the location where the victim’s head and internal organs had been buried, approximately five kilometres from where her headless body was found.

Co-accused sentenced in 2025

The first accused, Brian Mugweira, 22, pleaded guilty to the charges in the Polokwane High Court in 2025. He was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by Sergeant Themba Sindane of the SAPS Provincial Harmful Occult-Related Practices and Missing Persons Unit.

Scheepers praised the investigating officer and the other members involved for their perseverance and commitment throughout the investigation.

He reiterated that the SAPS remained committed to pursuing justice for victims of violent crime and ensuring that perpetrators were held accountable.

The provincial commissioner said the successful conclusion of the case highlighted the importance of thorough investigations in securing justice for victims and their families.

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