Acting judge Peet Johnson on Thursday did not mince his words as he sentenced Sandile Mantsoe to more than 30 years imprisonment for the murder of Karabo Mokoena.
“The court cannot describe you in any other way but as a devil in disguise‚” Johnson said as he read through his judgment in the High Court in Johannesburg.
“I am guessing you thought that your riches would get you everywhere but they got you nowhere‚” he added.
While Mantsoe's lawyer had pushed to get him a minimum sentence‚ Johnson said he "deserved nothing less than a harsh punishment"‚ emphasising that he would need to pay the price for killing Mokoena.
He said there were no mitigating factors to give him a lesser sentence.
Describing Mantsoe as a danger to society‚ Johnson sentenced Mantsoe to 30 years for murder.
Johnson also sentenced him to five years for assault - three years of which were suspended - and four years for defeating the ends of justice - two of which were suspended. The two years for assault and two years for defeating the ends of justice will run concurrently.
This will mean that he will spend 32 years in jail altogether.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
