POLOKWANE – Court one in the Limpopo High Court was filled to the brim last Tuesday when presiding judge Gerrit Muller found two prominent businessmen and their two accomplices guilty of murdering Ronald Makgatho in Seshego in 2006.
Joshua Hlako, Marcus Makgatho and Khumbelo Mabirimisa were found guilty of murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice while Amanda Makgatho was only found guilty of kidnapping and Mabirimisa not found guilty of kidnapping in what has been termed a ritual killing for business purposes.
The Makgatho accused are both relatives of the deceased.
The state, before the Seshego Magistrate’s Court in May last year, called a witness who confessed to having been privy to the details that led to Makgatho’s death.
During the four accused’s consolidated bail application, the witness said Makgatho had travelled to Soshanguve Ext 4 where he lived, and found Amanda Makgatho there shortly before he was killed 17 years ago.
The accused forced him into a vehicle and drove him to Seshego, where he was locked up in a shack.
According to the witness, Hlako and Amanda Makgatho were holding the deceased’s hands and legs down as he was brutally murdered for business-related rituals.
The witness told the court that Mabirimisa was also present, with an unknown woman during the ordeal and that the accused indicated when it was time “to start with the job” shortly before Makgatho was murdered.
There was also a bucket which they used to collect the victim’s blood, the witness testified.
“Ronny’s body parts were cut off. His head was taken to Hlako’s tavern and some parts to his (Hlako’s) farm and to Makghato’s lodge,” the witness added.
The court heard that after the body parts were taken to the businesses, Makgatho’s remains were buried.
Those in the courtroom, stood up and sang in jubilation after Muller delivered the guilty judgment.
According to Muller, the court was satisfied that the accused had kidnapped their victim and that he was satisfied with the testimony given by the state witness, and his explanation linking Amanda Makgatho to the murder.
The exact location of Makgatho’s remains, however, remains a mystery.
Sentencing for those accused of the murder was postponed to October 13 for mitigation.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said they hoped the accused would be given the maximum sentences as prescribed for the transgressions they were found guilty of.
