The high court in Middelburg convicted and sentenced Lefadi Chego, 49, to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Zama Zithobile Maphisa, 35, in September 2020.
Chego had pleaded guilty.
Chego told the court through his lawyer he was in a relationship with the deceased and their relationship soured after the victim fell pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl.
After the child was born in 2020, the deceased became rude to him and his family.
On September 29 2020, Chego invited Maphisa to an outing in Verena in Mpumalanga, with the hope they could rekindle their relationship.
However, the conversation became confrontational and he ended up stabbing her to death.
“When he realised that the deceased was no longer breathing, he abandoned the deceased’s lifeless body in the resort and threw the murder weapon away,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said on Friday.
Chego then handed over the deceased’s handbag and a cellphone to her cousin and said the deceased was admitted to a hospital in Mpumalanga.
“The accused confessed to the murder a month later and only the empty skull was found.”
Judge Thando Mankge on Friday found no substantial and compelling factors to justify a lesser sentence than the prescribed minimum sentence of life for murder.
In addition, Mankge sentenced Chego to five years for defeating the ends of justice, which will run concurrently with the life sentence.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
Life imprisonment for man who killed girlfriend in Mpumalanga
Image: 123RF/Allan Swart
The high court in Middelburg convicted and sentenced Lefadi Chego, 49, to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Zama Zithobile Maphisa, 35, in September 2020.
Chego had pleaded guilty.
Chego told the court through his lawyer he was in a relationship with the deceased and their relationship soured after the victim fell pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl.
After the child was born in 2020, the deceased became rude to him and his family.
On September 29 2020, Chego invited Maphisa to an outing in Verena in Mpumalanga, with the hope they could rekindle their relationship.
However, the conversation became confrontational and he ended up stabbing her to death.
“When he realised that the deceased was no longer breathing, he abandoned the deceased’s lifeless body in the resort and threw the murder weapon away,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said on Friday.
Chego then handed over the deceased’s handbag and a cellphone to her cousin and said the deceased was admitted to a hospital in Mpumalanga.
“The accused confessed to the murder a month later and only the empty skull was found.”
Judge Thando Mankge on Friday found no substantial and compelling factors to justify a lesser sentence than the prescribed minimum sentence of life for murder.
In addition, Mankge sentenced Chego to five years for defeating the ends of justice, which will run concurrently with the life sentence.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
READ MORE:
Triple life sentence for man who raped and murdered four-year-old
Sisulu clears the air on possible legal action after being barred from visiting Block in jail
Man who pleaded guilty to killing MUT student Xolile Mbatha to be sentenced next week
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos