Boitumelo Tshehle

A 34-year old man was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Monday for murdering his girlfriend in Groot Marico in North West two years ago.

Thomas Batshegi pleaded guilty to the assault and murder of his girlfriend, Maswe Molife, 40, and was sentenced in the Mmabatho high court this week.

His mother, Meisie Batshegi, a pensioner, said she was going to struggle to raise her son's children for such a long time.

She said though she knew her son was "a bit naughty", she had never thought he would ever kill anyone.

"I am still traumatised by what happened.

I accept the court's decision; there is nothing I can do," she said.

According to court testimony, Batshegi kicked and punched Molife to death during an argument while returning from a tavern. He then left her body in nearby bushes.

The next morning Batshegi visited his mother and asked her to look for his girlfriend. He then produced a bag containing Molife's bloodstained clothes and confessed to having murdered her.

The deceased's body was found in the bushes where Batshegi had left it.