Jealous boyfriend sentenced to lengthy imprisonment for brutal murder
The 23-year-old Sherico Makatees, was sentenced by the Springbok Regional Court in the Northern Cape to 25 years’ imprisonment, with five years suspended, for the brutal murder of 24-year-old Calvin Saul.
Makatees was convicted of murder, read with the provisions of Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, which prescribes life imprisonment for murder unless substantial and compelling circumstances justify a lesser sentence.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said after considering the evidence and submissions before it, the court found that the accused’s youth, his status as a first offender, and the fact that life imprisonment would be disproportionately harsh constituted substantial and compelling circumstances warranting a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence.
“The court accordingly imposed an effective sentence of 20 years’ direct imprisonment. In addition, in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, Makatees was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The court heard that both the accused and the deceased resided in Matjieskloof, a small settlement near Springbok, although they were not friends.
“On 30 November 2024, the deceased and several acquaintances, including the accused’s girlfriend, were socialising and consuming alcohol at the home of a friend. Earlier that day, the accused had argued with the deceased and became aggrieved by what he perceived to be the deceased’s attitude towards him. Later that evening, the accused and a friend went to the gathering to fetch his girlfriend. Along the way, he told several witnesses that he intended to stab the deceased,” he said.
He said while his friend entered the yard to call the girlfriend, the accused remained outside. Despite being called several times, the girlfriend refused to leave with him, stating that she was not going.
“At the time, she was seated between the deceased’s legs. Enraged by her refusal, the accused approached the deceased from behind, opened his Okapi knife and repeatedly stabbed him in full view of those present.
Although his friend attempted to intervene and persuaded him to leave, the accused turned back and continued stabbing the deceased. After leaving the premises, he returned a short while later and jumped twice with both feet on the deceased’s head before bystanders intervened and he fled the scene.
“While fleeing, the accused encountered the deceased’s brother and admitted that he had stabbed him. Although the deceased’s brother and another individual pursued the accused, he managed to escape. Emergency medical services and members of the South African Police Service were summoned, but upon their arrival, Calvin Saul was declared dead at the scene. The accused was subsequently arrested,” he said.
Senokoatsane said during the trial, the accused admitted that he stabbed the deceased because he was angry and jealous.
“He further admitted that he did not act in self-defence, that his life had never been in danger, that he intended to kill the deceased, and that he was fully aware of his actions at the time of the attack. The prosecution, led by Regional Court Prosecutor Basil Kock, emphasised the gravity and irreversible consequences of the offence, the interests of society, and the particularly vicious nature of the attack. Post-mortem findings revealed that the deceased sustained multiple stab wounds to the back, chest and abdomen, with the cause of death determined to be multiple stab wounds to the chest.
“This sentence reflects the National Prosecuting Authority’s unwavering commitment to holding perpetrators of violent crime accountable. It sends a clear message that acts of violence driven by jealousy, possessiveness and anger will be met with severe consequences.The right to life is one of the most fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and remains the cornerstone of a just, democratic and peaceful society. Every individual has the right to live free from violence, fear and harm,” he said.
