POLOKWANE: A 45-year-old teacher has been sentenced to an effective 17 years in prison for the premeditated murder of Limpopo Department of Education Circuit Manager Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape.

Mahlodi Melida Mathole was sentenced by the Polokwane High Court after pleading guilty to the murder of Mehlape, who was shot and killed at his home in Mankweng Zone 1, outside Polokwane, on 28 December 2023.

Mathole pleaded guilty in terms of a Section 105A plea and sentence agreement under the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, admitting that she acted in furtherance of a common purpose and that the murder was premeditated.

In her plea statement, Mathole told the court that the murder was motivated by her belief that Mehlape was responsible for the death of her sister, who was the mother of Mologadi Mehlape.

According to the plea statement, family members believed that her sister had been poisoned, prompting Mathole to seek revenge against Mehlape.

Mathole subsequently consulted traditional healer Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane and requested “muthi” to kill Mehlape.

She later became aware that the deceased’s daughter and other people were allegedly making arrangements for armed men to attack and kill him.

The court heard that Mathole transferred R600 to Mogotlane to cover diesel expenses for the vehicle that was being used to transport the alleged hitmen to Mehlape’s home.

She later contacted Mogotlane and warned him not to target the wrong person because there were two men at the homestead. She specifically identified Mehlape as the intended victim.

The armed men then went to Mehlape’s home and shot him several times.

Mehlape sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including fatal wounds to the head, and died at the scene.

Mathole admitted that her actions contributed directly to the commission of the murder.

During sentencing, Judge Gert Muller expressed concern over the apparent ease with which lives were being taken, saying that it seemed as though killing a person had become as easy as going to a shop and choosing who should be killed.

The court subsequently convicted Mathole of murder and sentenced her to 25 years’ imprisonment, with eight years suspended.

She will therefore serve an effective 17 years’ direct imprisonment.

Two other accused, Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto, 34, and Michael Sello Molongoane, 42, appeared alongside Mathole in the matter.

Ranoto and Molongoane face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Their matter has been separated from Mathole’s case and postponed to 2–13 November 2026, when they are expected to stand trial in the Polokwane High Court.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed Mathole’s conviction and sentence.

Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Ivy Thenga commended Advocate Ratshibvumo for successfully prosecuting the matter.

Thenga also praised members of the former Limpopo Provincial Investigation Unit, Colonel Richard Boshomane, Captain Phaladi Mokola and Sergeant Chuene Mokwele, for their diligent investigative work, which contributed to securing the conviction.

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