The Moretele Magistrates’ Court in South Africa has handed down a 15-year prison sentence, with 5 years suspended, to a 24-year-old man named Nkateko Masha for the murder of his 17-year-old girlfriend, Gontse Malatji.
According to Henry Mamothame, the Regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) North West Division, Masha has been deemed unfit to possess a firearm.
Masha’s conviction stems from an incident on November 16, 2021, in Stinkwater near Moretele, where he confronted his girlfriend at his home, accusing her of infidelity after seeing images on Facebook. An argument ensued, leading the girlfriend to attempt to end the relationship. Despite her decision, she stayed overnight in his outside room, where Masha fatally stabbed her while she slept.
After committing the crime, Masha fled to a nearby bush, where he attempted suicide by cutting his hands with a knife. He later abandoned the suicide attempt, returned home to confess to his actions, and surrendered to the police.
The court granted him R1000 bail, and he pleaded guilty to the offence. In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Mpho Matlala urged the court to consider the rifeness of femicide in the country and further argued that being in a relationship doesn’t give any partner a right to kill whenever there’s a conflict.
Magistrate Gilbert Sono agreed with the state but also considered that the accused is young and a first-time offender who is a candidate for rehabilitation, before imposing a sentence on him.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor and Constable Kekana from the South African Police Service for their collaboration in bringing justice to the family of the deceased.
She called on all community formations to strengthen educational programmes on gender-based violence and femicide.
