A North West family has been left devastated after the man who killed their daughter — and was sentenced to life in prison — was unexpectedly released on appeal.
Atlholanang William Mosiane, a traffic officer, confessed to shooting his partner, 35-year-old Dimpho Motlodi, five times in front of their young son in Tlhabane in March 2021. He later handed himself over to police, pleaded guilty, and in November 2023 was given a life sentence.
But in May this year, just over a year into that sentence, Mosiane successfully appealed his conviction. The appeal argued that his trial was invalid because it had been held without court-appointed assessors, as required by law in certain cases.
The North West High Court agreed, ruling that the original court had not been properly constituted. Judges set aside both the conviction and the sentence, ordering Mosiane’s immediate release.
A Shocking Encounter
The news came as a shock to Dimpho’s parents — not through official channels, but when her father unexpectedly saw Mosiane walking in Rustenburg two months later.
“We knew that he got a life sentence, so we are in a state of shock,” said her mother, Winnie, 62. “For two years we went up and down in court. We don’t even know what steps to take. We are tired.”
Legal Loophole
During his trial, the magistrate had asked Mosiane’s lawyer whether assessors were necessary. The lawyer replied “not necessary,” and the matter was not pursued further. On appeal, Mosiane argued that he had not been fully informed about the legal implications of waiving assessors.
The high court accepted this argument, declaring the proceedings invalid.
For Dimpho’s family, the decision has reopened wounds they were struggling to heal. “The court’s decision has shattered us,” Winnie said.