The Tlhabane Regional Court sentenced Atlholang William Mosiane (34) to life imprisonment for murdering his 27-year-old girlfriend last week Friday. Mosiane, who was a law enforcement officer at the Rustenburg Traffic Department, was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
His conviction emanates from an incident on March 25, 2021, at Lefaragatlha near Tlhabane, wherein he went to his girlfriend's home, as they had agreed to meet at 7pm. At that time, she had not arrived, and Mosiane proceeded to look for her at her friend's house in Tlhabane, to no avail. He then went back to her home and found her in her shack.
He then demanded to check her cellphone, to which she complied while telling him not to interrogate her about the phone's content. An argument ensued, and the girlfriend subsequently took her cellphone and called her father. Upon answering the call, the father heard a gunshot and quickly rushed to the shack, accompanied by the deceased's younger sister.
When they arrived, Mosiane had already shot her five times and killed her on the spot. The killer then took their 10-year-old son and left the scene. Mosiane later handed himself over to the police, and the court granted him bail. During court proceedings, he tendered a guilty plea, which the state rejected, as it was an attempt to avoid a longer jail term.
Henry Mamothame, Spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority North West Province Division said: "In aggravation of the sentence, the State Prosecutor, Mercia Magano, urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, as the accused was a law enforcement officer who had a responsibility to uphold the law."
Magistrate Segakweng Moeng agreed with the State and remarked on the character displayed by the accused of being regretful but not remorseful. A life sentence was subsequently imposed for pre-meditated murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West Province, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, investigating officer Warrant Officer Richard Mogongwana and other role players for their collaboration in bringing the perpetrator to book.
