Mpumalanga court sentences teenage girl to 18 years for murder
The SAPS has sent a strong message to the youth following the brutal murder of a woman who was stabbed and robbed by a teenager.
A 16-year-old girl will spend 18 years behind bars after being sentenced by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court, sitting in Middelburg.
The teenager, who cannot be identified according to the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 as she is a minor, was convicted of murdering Grace Tebogo Sebothoma (64) last August at Loding Village near Vaalbank.
According to the Mpumalanga police, the teenager stabbed Sebothoma multiple times, before stealing her belongings.
In addition to the 18-year prison sentence, the accused received a 10-year sentence for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The court ordered that the two sentences run concurrently.
The acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, stressed the importance of community involvement in safeguarding vulnerable citizens.
“We hope this sentence sends a strong message to young people who commit crimes. They will have to bear the consequences of their actions.
“Within the SAPS, the Youth Crime Prevention Desk has been established as a platform for young people to discuss issues affecting them. We encourage young people to get involved in the fight against crime, not become perpetrators of it,” he says.
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