The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the life imprisonment sentence handed down by the Polokwane High Court to Tatenda Sithole (29), a Zimbabwean national, for the murder of 16-year-old Modjadji Niccol Thoka.
Life sentence handed down
Sithole was sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional 13 years for murder, defeating the ends of justice and violating a corpse. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective life term. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. Sithole pleaded not guilty to all charges.
How the murder unfolded
The court heard that on 5 January 2024 in Botlokwa, Sithole, who worked as a traditional healer, encountered the teenager after she left her home to visit a nearby spaza shop. He took her to an unused house where she was killed.
Thereafter, Sithole and his accomplice, Brian (who has already been sentenced), dismembered her body and concealed the remains at different locations, including a shallow pit. The State alleged that some of the remains were intended for ritual purposes. A few days later, community members discovered the remains, leading to a police investigation and Sithole's arrest.
Family's suffering highlighted
In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Eric Mabapa presented a Victim Impact Statement compiled by Court Preparation Officer Morongwe Moifo. The statement detailed the devastating impact of the crime on Modjadji's family. The State argued that the circumstances of the killing were particularly cruel and had compounded the family's suffering by depriving them of the opportunity to conduct a proper burial.
Advocate Mabapa further submitted that the killing of women in South Africa remains a serious concern and that courts must send a strong message that the taking of human life will not be tolerated.
NPA welcomes the outcome
Welcoming the sentence, Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Ivy Thenga said: “It can never be overemphasised how important human life is. We will remain vigorous in our pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers.”
The DPP also commended Advocate Mabapa and the investigating officer, Sergeant Sindane of the Provincial Detectives, for their work in securing the conviction and sentence.