Mehlape was a Circuit Manager at the Limpopo Department of Education.

Limpopo National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson Mashudu Malabi said that Mehlape’s death was orchestrated by his daughter Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape who has since been sentenced to life imprisonment.

“The murder follows claims made by traditional healer, Mogotlane who alleged that Mehlape was responsible for her mother’s death through the use of “muthi”.

“When attempts to retaliate using traditional means failed, Mehlape enlisted the help of various family members to hire a contract killer, agreeing to pay R200,000 for the murder,” she said.

She further said that on Monday, Mogotlane pleaded guilty and the court sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment for murder and 13 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“He accepted his responsibility for his role in the offences to cause the death of Dr Mehlape. Three others accused, Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto (34), Mahlodi Melida Mathole (34) and Michael Sello Molongoane (42) appeared alongside Mogotlane,” she said.

The trial for these accused has been separated and postponed to 02-13 November 2026 in the Polokwane High Court.

The NPA welcomed the conviction and life sentence, viewing it as a clear affirmation of the justice system’s resolve to hold perpetrators of serious and violent crimes accountable.

It further said the outcome underscores the NPA’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and securing justice for victims and their families.

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Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape, 28, was handed a life sentence by the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the murder of her father, Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape, a senior official in the Limpopo Department of Education.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mehlape acted on the belief that her father had a hand in her mother’s death through the use of “muthi”—a traditional African spiritual practice—after being told this by a traditional healer.

“When attempts to retaliate using traditional means failed, she enlisted the help of relatives to arrange a hitman, offering R200,000 for the killing,” explained NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.

On the night of December 28, 2023, Mehlape reportedly unlocked the family home’s gate and door, allowing the attackers to enter. Her father was shot multiple times in his bedroom while he slept. His valuables, including a cellphone, were stolen.

Police later recovered a Ford Ranger believed to have been used during the crime, and a firearm suspected to be the murder weapon was also found.

In addition to Mehlape, four others were arrested in connection with the murder. Among them is 34-year-old traditional healer Mahlodi Melida Mathole. The remaining accused — Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto, Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane (both 34), and Michael Sello Molongoane (42) — are expected to appear in court on June 20, 2025. They face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Despite her guilty plea and a statement apologizing to her family, Mehlape received no leniency. The court found her remorse unconvincing, believing her confession was prompted by overwhelming evidence.

Mehlape is also the primary caregiver to her toddler daughter.

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