Members of the community and the police today expressed disappointment after the Moretele Magistrate Court passed sentence to Ms Fikile Mongwe (36) and her boyfriend Innocent Pilusa (21)for colluding to murder Mr Selaelo Lekalakala (61) of Ramotse village in Hammanskraal, who was Ms Mongwe’s husband.
Ms Mongwe was sentenced to 10 years in prison for accessory to committing murder of her husband while her boyfriend, Mr innocent Pilusa, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Mr Lekalakala whom they buried in a shallow grave in Bosplaas bushes in Temba on 30 December 2016.
Ms Mongwe used to be the couple’s housekeeper and the late Mr Lekalakala married Ms Mongwe after his wife died in 2014. Ms Mongwe introduced Pilusa to Lekalakala as his cousin who is looking for a place to stay. The day before they murdered Mr Lekalakala, he found them in bed and when he asked what was happening, Pilusa attacked him. A neighbor stopped the fracas.
The court proved that Innocent Pilusa premeditated the killing of Mr Lekalakala and later fulfilled it with the help of Ms Mongwe, the wife of the deceased, after telling his uncle Robert Pilosa that he wanted to ‘REMOVE’ the deceased because he was an interruption to him and her beloved girlfriend Fikile Mongwe.
After Mr Pilusa killed the deceased, he put the body in a bath with the help of Ms Mongwe and covered it with a blanket. He then asked for help from Mr Karrel Khoza to carry the bath to the bushes.
Video by Frank Nkwanyana
Mr Khoza helped him without knowing there was a dead body in the bath, after he realized this, he refused to help them any further to burry the body and later reported the matter to the police.
Mr Lucas Machabang, a friend to the deceased, said he was not satisfied with the court’s final sentencing for the serious offence that Ms Mongwe and Mr Pilusa committed.
Ms Lizzy Lekalakala, the mother to the deceased said “There is nothing I can say or do, I am happy that all this has passed, I am not a judge and I can only accept the sentence.”
Ms Linky Khoza, sister to Karrel Khoza, who reported the case, said the sentence was too lenient and she is afraid that the two will soon come out and kill his brother.
Ms Mongwe and her boyfriend Mr Pilusa, were both found without previous convictions and were however denied bail and remained in custody until the day of sentencing.
The court considered that Mr Pilusa pleaded guilty before the court got substantial evidence and explained how he killed and buried the deceased, which the court said was a sign that he showed remorse.
Watch community member criticize the court…
Video by Frank Nkwanyana
