LIMPOPO – The Limpopo High Court last Tuesday sentenced a pastor, Maphakele Reuben Phathakge (50) to 10 years in jail for killing his neighbour.
The two were said to be lovers. The murder occurred at Greenside Phokoane village in the Sekhukhune District in February.
Phathakge pleaded guilty on a murder charge.
Judge Nare Frans Kgomo heard how an argument ensued between the accused and the deceased, who were neighbours, as she had requested that he buy her a television set. The name of the deceased is withheld on request of the National Prosecuting Authority.
In his plea explanation, Phathakge said he had lost his temper after the deceased had insulted him, saying he was not a “good blesser” after he failed to make the purchase.
He consequently struck her on the head.
Failing to resuscitate her, Phathakge handed himself over to the police at Nebo.
The community banished him and ordered he paid for the deceased’s burial.
For the state, Advocate Eric Mabapa requested the court to impose a lengthy term imprisonment which will take into account the seriousness of the offence and the interests of society.
“Women in this country should be able to walk in peace when doing shopping, to come and go just like men do, they should feel safe in their homes. The cases of murders between lovers should be regarded as serious cases and this tendency should stop. The accused is a married man and decided to kill an unmarried woman. Only animals bite each other to death for sex,” he said.
The Regional Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Mashudu Malabi-Dxhangi, welcomed the sentence.
“It’s just unfortunate that innocent people lost their lives, especially in such a gruesome manner. We hope that the sentence will have a deterring effect on like-minded offenders.”
