Limpopo teenager sentenced to life imprisonment for setting fire that killed baby
19-year-old Kamogelo Collins Mashabela was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 20 years imprisonment for murder, attempted murder and arson, by the Polokwane High Court.
POLOKWANE – This sentences emanates from an incident where the Mashabela torched the family home of his girlfriend after an alleged domestic dispute in Masemola outside Lebowakgomo on 5 March 2019. A two-year-old baby was killed in the fire.
Earlier police reports indicated that the accused arrived at the house at around midnight whereby a heated argument ensued between the couple. During the argument he stabbed his girlfriend and then set the house alight using a flammable liquid. The girlfriend and her mother managed to escape but the baby was still inside.
Police were summoned to the scene and the baby was rescued from the fire, but later succumbed to injuries sustained.
The case was assigned to Det WO Hlakole Frank Makola whose hard work led to the arrest and subsequent sentencing of Mashabela. Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba commended Makola on a job well done.
