The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed the sentencing of three men by the Protea Regional Court for the brutal murder of 18-year-old Lerato Nchabeleng. The victim, a Grade 11 learner at Reasoma Secondary School in Protea North, Soweto, was killed outside his school.
Convictions and sentencing details
Mahanye Tisetso, age 20, Ernest Lehopo Mohloki, age 19, and Kagiso Phoofolo, age 20, were each handed a life sentence for the murder, along with an additional 15 years imprisonment for each of two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
A fourth individual, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, was also convicted. Due to the principles governing child offenders, the court deviated from the prescribed minimum sentence, ordering him to two years of compulsory residence at a Child and Youth Care Centre alongside an effective 16-year prison term for the murder and robbery charges.
Circumstances of the incident
The tragic events unfolded on 12 February 2024, when the victim was approached by his classmate, who identified him to co-accused waiting outside the school gates. The group confronted the learner and demanded his cellphone, and when he refused, they repeatedly stabbed him and stole his cap.
Despite a teacher's attempt to rush him to the hospital, he was declared dead upon arrival. Following this, the group proceeded to Mapetla Park, where they robbed another victim of a cellphone after threatening him with a knife.
Prosecution and court findings
Following the crimes, two of the accused fled to Qwaqwa but were arrested following a police tip-off, while the other two were apprehended within Gauteng. During the sentencing phase, the State successfully argued that the gravity of these senseless, violent crimes far outweighed the personal circumstances of the young offenders, emphasising the necessity of substantial custodial sentences to act as a deterrent and protect the public.
In delivering the sentence, the court described the incident as a brutal and senseless attack on an innocent learner at his own school gates, noting the devastating impact such violence has on families. The court maintained that in cases of this nature, the need for societal retribution and deterrence must take precedence. The NPA has expressed its approval of the sentence, stating that it reaffirms the criminal justice system's dedication to holding violent offenders accountable, particularly in instances where crimes are committed against learners in environments where they should be safe.