A man who was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend and her lover has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court.
A MAN who was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend and her lover has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court.
Police spokesperson Captain Olebogeng Tawana said the accused, Oetla Nelson Plaatje, 32, was found guilty of the double murder and sentenced on February 8.
Tawana said the incident took place on January 6, 2020, when Plaatje caught his girlfriend, Keitumetse Lovedelia Marekwa, 27, and Tlokotsi Johannes Makoloi, 34, sleeping together at his residence.
“He broke the window and forced entry into the house, armed with a knife, which was instrumental in the commission of double murder,” said Tawana.
“Tlokotsi sustained twelve stab wounds to the upper body while Keitumetse sustained four stabbed wounds to the upper body.”
Tawana said that Plaatje was arrested on January 7, 2020 and remained in police custody until the conclusion of the trial after being denied bail.
“He spent two years and one month awaiting trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to one years imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to commit an offence unknown to the state, 13 years imprisonment for the murder of Makoloi and 13 years imprisonment for the murder of Marekwa.
“It was ordered that the sentence for housebreaking and 10 years of the sentence for the murder of Marekwa should run concurrently with the sentence for the murder of Makoloi. The accused will serve an effective 16 years behind bars.
“The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
Tawana said that the court took into account that Plaatje was a first-time offender.
“He had found his partner with another man in a night of passion. He was never convicted before and showed remorse for the crime he committed. After stabbing the couple he contacted his sister telephonically and informed her that he had injured people.
“The court also took into consideration the interests of the family and the community … The accused committed an irreversible crime and deprived the families of their loved ones.
“Femicide and gender-based violence are rife in our society, and courts cannot shy away from condemning this. The conduct of the accused cannot be tolerated in a civilised society.”
Tawana said that the Northern Cape police management “applauded” the investigating officer, Constable Kgosietsile Taolo, for his investigative work and co-operation shown to the National Prosecuting Authority and Department of Justice.
