The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena applauded Sgt Mapataka for his meticulous investigation that resulted in the sentencing of five accused to a combined 115 years imprisonment.
The accused; Lebogang Tshabalala (29), Everjoy Sibanda (20), Lucky Motholo (25), Kagiso Matlhabe (22) and Kamogelo Modise (23) were sentenced on Friday, 26 January 2024, by Gauteng North High Court in Pretoria, for kidnapping, robbery aggravating and murder. The accused kidnapped, robbed and killed Neo Modubu, then aged 34, in October 2020. Modubu’s parents reported him missing in Brits on 28 October 2020, after he failed to return from Crocodile Mine where he worked.
The missing person’s body was found three days later with hands tied at the back. Thus, a murder case was registered at Mooinooi police station for investigation. In conjunction with PPS security officers, the investigator managed to piece together evidence and that led to the arrest of four of the five accused in Brits and Oukasie Location between 19 and 20 December 2020. That after PPS security officers spotted on 19 December 2020, a white Toyota Avanza, which the accused used to commit the crimes.
The accused made several appearances in the Brits Magistrates’ Court until their case was transferred to the High Court. Meanwhile, the fifth accused; Kamogelo Modise was later arrested in Diepsloot and joined his co-accused on 01 February 2022.
Subsequently, Lebogang Tshabalala, Everjoy Sibanda and Lucky Motholo were acquitted on a charge of murder. However, all five accused were found guilty of kidnapping and robbery aggravating. Kagiso Matlhabe and Kamogelo Modise were also found guilty of murder. As a result, all accused were each given three years imprisonment for kidnapping. Furthermore, four of them were each sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for robbery aggravating while Lucky Motholo got 10 years for the same offence. Regarding the murder, Kagiso Matlhabe and Kamogelo Modise were each given 15 years imprisonment.
The Provincial Commissioner commended the Investigating Officer, D/Sergeant Leornard Mapataka, the Prosecutor Advocate Salome Scheepers and PPS security officers for their hard work and cooperation to ensure that justice is served. Further to that, he said that the sentences will indeed serve as a warning that crime does not pay.
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