WATCH: Tshego’s killer evades life imprisonment after siding with the State

The trial hearing of Muzikayise Malephane on Friday, 19 February turned into his sentencing after he had signed a plea agreement with the State to turn State witness against the alleged mastermind of Tshegofatso Pule’s murder.

Also read: Arrested alleged mastermind in Tshego’s murder appears in court

Malephane, who was offered R70 000 to kill Tshego, was convicted of four counts – the murder of Tshego, defeating the ends of justice, illegal possession and use of an unlicensed firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

He admitted to all the counts during his trial hearing in the South Gauteng High Court, and was consequently found guilty and handed down a sentence of 20 years imprisonment on condition that he sides with the State against the mastermind behind the murder.

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed the arrest of a suspect in connection with orchestrating the murder of Tshego on the morning of the trial. The Provincial Police spokesperson Brigadier Matapelo Peters also confirmed the arrest of the suspect, 32, at his residence.

Also read: Muzikayise Malephane wrote a letter apologising for killing Tshegofatso Pule

The nabbed suspect is understood to be the boyfriend of the deceased who Malephane makes reference of in his confession statement.

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The statement read out by Malephane’s Defence narrated the events leading to the murder of eight-months pregnant Tshego last year.

It was revealed by the Defence that Malephane was known to the alleged orchestrator since high school, and someone whom he partied with. He said he had asked him on numerous occasions last year to find him an assassin to kill Tshego who was pregnant, as he did not want his wife to find out about the pregnancy.

The confession read that the suspect offered R7 000 for the job, but Malephane said it was too little. He later offered R20 000 which he was still hesitant about until he was offered R70 000, after which he agreed to helping with the murder.

Initially, Malephane had intended to hang Tshego on a bridge in Maraisburg and write a suicide note on Tshego’s WhatsApp as a status on her phone, but upon visiting the bridge Malephane found it impossible as the bridge was too busy.

The statement also revealed a first attempt to murder Tshego in May after the boyfriend had arranged a job interview in the south of Johannesburg to which Malephane was to fetch her, but Tshego did pitch up.
Following the first attempt, Malephane confessed to a visit by the boyfriend on 4 June 2020 at his girlfriend’s place where he was informed of Tshego’s visit later that day at the boyfriend’s flat.

Malephane was the arranged driver who fetched Tshego from the flat drove with her to a quiet area in Noordgesig in Soweto. The confession read that Tshego asked about the trip but

Malephane told her he was fetching something. He then stopped the car, went to the passenger side of the vehicle and pulled her out before shooting her once in the chest. Thinking she was dead he later drove her to Durban Deep where he used a rope to hang her from a tree.

He also confessed that he had bought the firearm at a hostel in Soweto.

Following the murder, he took the vehicle to a car wash in Diepkloof, and met with the mastermind whom he said was still getting the money ready.
He also said that he kept the firearm for about a month before dumping it in a river in Mpumalanga.

If you recall, Malephane was arrested on his way back from Mpumalanga on 15 June.

Also read: Tshegofatso Pule’s killer convicted after turning State witness

Prior to the sentencing, the Defence negotiated with the State for a minimum sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment due to the following compelling circumstance: that Malephane is a father of three children, who he supported, including his mother; his first-time offender and is a relatively young man that can be rehabilitated and contribute meaningfully to society.

Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, who labelled the crime as horrendous reprehensible and brutal murder, endorsed the sentence agreement which had been previously negotiated with the State, investigating officers and family of the complainant. However, he cleared that normally he would not agree to a sentence agreement but due to the circumstance of the case, the court had to ‘adult’ about things.

“Due to the compelling circumstance which has persuaded this court to not impose the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, to deviate from that sentence you are then consequently sentenced to 20 years in respect to the murder and three other counts to five years which are to run concurrently,” Mokgoatlheng read the judgement.

The emotional uncle of the deceased, Tumisang Katake, reflected saying, “It was an emotional day but at the end of the day our suspicions have been confirmed – we suspected from the very onset, from the disappearance of Tshegofatso, that the boyfriend had something to do with,” he lamented.