Court adjourned in sentencing of Mantsoe for murdering Karabo Mokoena

Court has adjourned the sentencing of Sandile Mantsoe, who was found guilty of murdering ex-girlfriend Karabo Mokoena by the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday.

The court adjourned after the testimony of Karabo’s mother, Agnes Mokoena, in which she testifed that she had counselled Karabo to leave Mantsoe and open a case against him after the convicted murderer had beaten Karabo.

However, the mother said Karabo would refuse, saying she was in love with Mantsoe.

The mother said when she first saw Karabo and Mantsoe, they did not seem like a couple in love, but just like people who knew each other.

Agnes said she was shocked, emotional and screamed when police told her that her daughter, Karabo, had been found burnt in a veld.

She could not understand why Karabo’s body had been burnt.

Earlier, the mother of Mantsoe’s daughter and his ex-girlfriend, Nonhlanhla Dlamini, took the stand, testifying that Mantsoe had motivated her, was an honest person, reliable and supportive father even after they separated.

Dlamini said the relationship between her and Mantsoe came to an end because he wanted to be in a relationship with Karabo.

She said Mantsoe’s imprisonment was hurtful for her because it would mean she would have to be a single parent, which would be a financial and emotional burden for her.

Acting judge Peet Johnson found Mantsoe had stabbed Mokoena and tried to cover up the murder by burning her body. He dumped her body in a veld and set her alight in 2017.

He also found Mantsoe guilty of defeating the ends of justice and assault to do grievous bodily harm.

The judge rejected Mantsoe’s defence that Mokoena had committed suicide, and also found his argument that he had been the victim of abuse at Mokoena’s hands was not credible.

The proceedings will get under way after the tea break.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has asked for a maximum sentence.

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