Seven members of the “410” gang received significant sentences for the 2020 murder of Moeketsi Lepota. The Rouxville Regional Court handed down the sentences, the Anti-Gang unit confirmed in a statement.

On Saturday 6 June 2020 at approximately 22:00, Lepota was visiting a friend’s home in Phomolong, Zastron. Gang members set the house on fire with the occupants still inside, the statement said. The friend escaped. Lepota could not get out and died inside the burning property.

Speaking to Nova News, Lt Col Thabo Covane, Free State police spokesperson, confirmed that police arrested the seven suspects just two days after the case was opened. Sgt Buza Monyaki led the investigation.

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Maj Gen Apaphia Modise, Free State Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, praised the investigative work of Sgt Monyaki. Modise said the conviction brought a sense of justice to the Lepota family.

The specific sentences were not confirmed in the official statement. Nova News sent questions to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on the specific sentences handed down. The NPA did not respond by the time of publication.