Lengthy jail term for accused in Letsitele farm attack
Johannes Jacobus Koos (63) was killed on his farm in Letsitele on 5 July 2011
LIMPOPO – The Polokwane High Court has on Wednesday, 27 September 2017, handed down a lengthy sentence to Sunday Thomas Sebatake (40) for murder and robbery.
Hawks Spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke said this sentence emanated from an incident which occurred on 5 July 2011, when an unknown number of suspects entered a farm belonging to Johannes Jacobus Koos (63), in Letsitele near Tzaneen.
“They attacked the deceased and robbed of him of his valuables which included a vehicle and cell phones before they fled the scene.”
The victim later succumbed to his injuries, said Maluleke.
He added that Hawks’ Serious Organized Crime Unit investigations led to the arrest of Sebatake and Vincent Thabo Makaringe (24) who were found in possession of some of the deceased’s stolen belongings.
“During their trial both accused were granted R3 000 bail but Sebatake absconded, he was sought on a warrant of arrest until his arrest in May 2017. Makaringe attended trial and was subsequently convicted.”
Sebatake has been sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for murder, 15 years imprisonment for robbery. Both sentences will run concurrently, he concluded.
