Life imprisonment for Joyce Monareng’s killer
Even though no motive could be established for the murder, the court viewed Tlou Phela's act as savage and barbaric.
POLOKWANE – Tshepiso Monareng, son of the estate agent and gospel singer who was brutally murdered at Seshego Zone 8 late last year, says there is not a prison sentence long enough to alleviate the pain of losing a mother to a murderer.
Read more: Seshego: Woman (51) stabbed, dies on street after attack
“The experience of seeing the perpetrator each time we attended court was tough. We are constantly being reminded that she was taken away from us.”
At one point, the family was afraid that justice would not be served, but today they are grateful that the law took its course, he added.
The Limpopo High Court last week sent 25-year-old Tlou Phela to prison for life for attacking and stabbing the 50-year-old Joyce Monareng to death.
Even though no motive could be established for the murder, the court viewed Phela’s act as savage and barbaric.
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Monareng said his advice for families whose loved ones had fallen victim to murder is to accept that grief does not have a time period.
“Losing someone close to your heart is not easy. Trust the justice system as they are the only ones who can help when you are in such a situation.”
According to the police, Joyce was seated in a vehicle with her assailant when she was stabbed.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo at the time told BONUS that they received a call from a community member about the body of a woman having been discovered in the street. “Police arrived on the scene to find the deceased lying next to a grey sedan.”
Phela was intercepted in Moletjie outside Seshego days after the murder, and was positively linked to the event after he was found in possession of some of the deceased’s items.
Read more: Joyce Monareng murder suspect (23) apprehended in Moletjie
