Former Sekhukhune United player Shaune Mogaila (29) has been convicted of culpable homicide after pleading guilty to killing a nine-year-old girl in a car crash in Tembisa.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday welcomed the conviction of Mogaila, who appeared before the Tembisa Magistrates’ Court and admitted to all charges against him.
The footballer pleaded guilty to reckless driving, fleeing the scene of an accident, and culpable homicide in terms of Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
The charges stem from a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred during the early hours of 30 October 2024 on Andrew Mapheto Road in Tembisa. Mogaila admitted that the vehicle he was driving veered into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle occupied by a woman and her two children.
The crash claimed the life of Gomolemo Mavimbela, while her mother and 13-year-old brother sustained serious injuries. Both victims spent roughly two months in hospital, with the mother suffering lasting physical impairment.
After the collision, Mogaila fled the scene but later handed himself over to law enforcement authorities at Rabie Ridge police station on the same day. During the investigation, police discovered alcohol bottles and drugs inside his vehicle.
The court convicted Mogaila on all three charges following his guilty plea. The matter has been postponed to 17 November for sentencing proceedings.
At his first court appearance on 1 November 2024, the Thembisa Magistrates’ Court granted Mogaila R20 000 bail after the state did not oppose his release.
The NPA said the guilty plea and conviction not only hold the accused accountable for his unlawful conduct but also spare the victims and their family the emotional burden of a lengthy trial.
Mogaila is a professional footballer who represented South Africa internationally in 2023 and played for several PSL clubs, including Highlands Park, TS Galaxy, Royal AM, and most recently Sekhukhune United, which he joined in July 2024.
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