An illegal miner from the Evander area who was involved in the killing of five people at Ogies in 2017, was sentenced in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Middelburg on 9 February to five life sentences.
Teboho Thokoane (38), also known as “Maphoshane”, and three others who were active in illegal mining and cable theft at Evander, hit Steyn Farm at Ogies on 12 October in what was believed to be a revenge attack.
This was prompted by an earlier incident where one of Thokoane’s friends shot and a resident Steyn Farm, an incident that left the victim disabled. The community caught the shooter and beat him to death.
Thokoane, who is a Lesotho citizen, and his gang went to Ogies to avenge the friend’s death.
Messrs Sipho Mabaso (24) Tshego Rampai (36), Dimakatso Tladi (50) and Mogale Mokobane (35) died on the scene of the shooting at Steyn Farm. Mr Alice Mbonani (40) was seriously wounded and later died in hospital. A 26-year-old woman was wounded but survived the massacre.
The High Court heard that the four armed men hired a vehicle to drive from Evander to Steyn.
Thokoane was eventually arrested at Evander. The police found that the accomplices were killed in a fight between rival zama-zamas.
The High Court found Thokoane guilty on 15 December on all the murders as well as attempted murder, and counts of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He was sentenced on 9 February to five life sentences for the five murders he committed, and 10 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder.
Thokoane received a further seven-year sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm and two years for the possession of ammunition. The attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm, as well as ammunition charges, will run concurrently with the five life sentences. The accused was also found to be permanently unfit to possess a firearm.
Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, provincial police spokesman, said the management in Mpumalanga is elated following a well-deserved sentence meted.
“The provincial management believes that the sentence will send a strong warning to criminals that their unlawful actions will eventually land them behind bars for a very long time just like Thokoane.”
