| 2024/06/23 |
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Media Statement
POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the court verdict imposed by the Polokwane Division of High court against a 54-year-old male accused in connection with the murder of a 43-year-old woman believed to his girlfriend in the Waterberg District. On 03 September 2016, the accused Tlou James Mashita brutally murdered a 43-year-old victim by hacking her with an axe at her residence at Tshamahansi village under Mahwelereng policing area. The victim, Nkedu Merriam Vilakazi, who untimely met her death as an employee at Mahwelereng SAPS appointed as an Administration Clerk, succumbed to severe wounds at the scene. Following the horrendous incident, James fled the scene driving the deceased’s grey Nissan NP 200 bakkie and the lifeless body of a 43-year-old woman was later discovered by her daughter who immediately reported the matter to the local police. An immediate manhunt of the suspect was activated and subsequently resulted in the apprehension of the perpetrator while driving the deceased’s NP 200 bakkie at the Seshego location. The accused appeared in court, but his case was provisionally withdrawn at Mahwelereng Magistrate court on 13 June 2018. Last year on 27 November 2023, the case was reinstated on the roll and transferred to Polokwane Division of the High court which commenced with a trial on Tuesday 18 June 2024 until his conviction on Friday 21 June 2024 after the accused pleaded guilty on a charge of murder and driving a motor vehicle without consent of the owner. Tlou James Mashita was found guilty on both charges and sentenced to 15 years of direct imprisonment following the horrible incident. “I’m ecstatic that the perpetrator of this despicable crime was brought to justice and handed lengthy incarceration,” said the Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe. Ends
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