Pholoso Pule was just days away from being an uncle, when instead he had to come to grips with losing his sister, Tshegofatso, along with her unborn child in June 2020.
A heavily pregnant Pule was found with a single gunshot wound, her body hung up in a tree in Durban Deep, Roodepoort. She was eight months pregnant.
Speaking to Sunday Times Daily outside the high court in Johannesburg, Pholoso said his sister’s killer, Ntuthuko Shoba, who was the father of her unborn child, took from him a person whom he was hoping to spend time with and watch grow.
For that, he deserved a life sentence, said Pholoso.
“I want him to get life behind bars. He didn’t come [to the family] and say that I am the guy who did this, I am responsible for this,” said Pholoso, who added that Shoba’s lack of admission also showed a lack of remorse.
He said losing someone he loved was the most agonising pain, considering the circumstances in which his sister’s life was ended.
“She was a very bubbly person, always talking about her dreams — what she wanted to pursue in life, but she is no longer here. We need to rest — we have been running with the case for almost two years now,” he said.
The family’s wait for justice was again extended when on Tuesday Shoba’s sentencing was postponed.
“Our life is no longer the same. We don’t feel safe any more,” Pholoso, 22, said.
He recalled that when Tshegofatso was killed, he was writing his exams at the University of Johannesburg. He couldn’t rest and was always thinking about the ordeal, but he kept praying.
“A lot was going on in my mind but I kept on praying that justice is going to be served,” he said.
The wheels of justice started turning when Shoba was caught after the hitman he hired, Muzikayise Malephane, was arrested.
Malephane confessed to the crime and implicated Shoba as the mastermind, saying he had wanted Pule killed because he was afraid his fiancée would find out about his affair with Pule. Malephane pleaded guilty to the murder and is serving a 20-year sentence.
“I couldn’t sleep and my mother was always on medication,” Pholoso recalled.
I want him to get a life sentence. He didn’t come [to the family] and say that I am the guy who did this, I am responsible for this.
— Pholoso Pule
Referring to the postponement of the sentencing proceedings, Pholoso said he was hoping his sister’s killer would be sentenced so that the family could find closure and continue with their lives.
“I was expecting the sentencing to be done. Unfortunately it didn’t happen, but I know justice is going be served and that he is going to get the sentence that he deserves,” he said.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the matter was postponed because Shoba opted to have a private probation officer and he had to have an opportunity to prepare a report in mitigation of sentence.
“This is the first request for postponement after the conviction stage, so we don’t think it is unreasonable, but as the state, we want to see the matter brought to finality,” she said.
The trial will resume on July 28.
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.