Ntwaagae Seleka
Ntwaagae Seleka
A contracted hitman was imprisoned for 15 years after pleading guilty in the Vereeniging circuit court yesterday.
But the victim's widow and daughter, who allegedly planned the hit, will only know their fate in April 2009.
Joseph Thabiso Thinane, 31, pleaded guilty before Judge Neels Claassen for being one of four hitmen who gunned down police Inspector Moeketsi Mabula in 2002.
Claassen also sentenced Thinane to a further 10-years. The sentences will run concurrently.
Thinane confessed that he, Joseph Makgalemele, Sophania Mophuting and Jacob Tshabalala were contracted by Mabula's wife Florence to assassinate him.
In 2004 Tshabalala pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years. Makgalemele, Mophuting, Mabula and Mokhethi pleaded not guilty.
In his plea statement Thinane said 43-year-old Mabula had offered them R30000 to kill her husband.
On September 4 2002 they and Mabula's daughter, Dikeledi Martha Mokhethi, 26, conspired to kill her husband.
"She promised to pay us in two instalments of R15000," Thinane said. "On September 5 2002 we went to the Mabula home, where we met Florence and her daughter.
"She (Florence) asked us if we were there to do the job (murder) and we agreed."
The trial of Florence Mabula, Mokhethi, Makgalemele and Mophuting is expected to resume on April 6 2009. Their bail was extended.
Guilty hitman gets 15 years
Ntwaagae Seleka
Ntwaagae Seleka
A contracted hitman was imprisoned for 15 years after pleading guilty in the Vereeniging circuit court yesterday.
But the victim's widow and daughter, who allegedly planned the hit, will only know their fate in April 2009.
Joseph Thabiso Thinane, 31, pleaded guilty before Judge Neels Claassen for being one of four hitmen who gunned down police Inspector Moeketsi Mabula in 2002.
Claassen also sentenced Thinane to a further 10-years. The sentences will run concurrently.
Thinane confessed that he, Joseph Makgalemele, Sophania Mophuting and Jacob Tshabalala were contracted by Mabula's wife Florence to assassinate him.
In 2004 Tshabalala pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years. Makgalemele, Mophuting, Mabula and Mokhethi pleaded not guilty.
In his plea statement Thinane said 43-year-old Mabula had offered them R30000 to kill her husband.
On September 4 2002 they and Mabula's daughter, Dikeledi Martha Mokhethi, 26, conspired to kill her husband.
"She promised to pay us in two instalments of R15000," Thinane said. "On September 5 2002 we went to the Mabula home, where we met Florence and her daughter.
"She (Florence) asked us if we were there to do the job (murder) and we agreed."
The trial of Florence Mabula, Mokhethi, Makgalemele and Mophuting is expected to resume on April 6 2009. Their bail was extended.