Witness Monareng (28) was sentenced by the High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division on Monday, November 4 after pleading guilty.

He was convicted for housebreaking with intent to commit a crime, two counts of murder, and two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The court heard that on February 5 this year, Monareng and unidentified accomplices forcefully entered Albert Mashego’s home in Violet Bank Trust, demanding money, cellphones, and a bank card.

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When Mashego informed them that his bank card was with his girlfriend, Victoria Mmathapelo Lebjane, in Zoekenog Trust, Monareng forced him to call her to arrange its retrieval. Upon arrival at Lebjane’s residence, Monareng ordered Mashego to knock on the door. When Lebjane opened, expecting her partner, Monareng shot through the door, fatally wounding the couple (Mashego and Lebjane) before retrieving the bank card from her pocket and fled the scene.

Monareng was later arrested after police matched his fingerprints to evidence found at the crime scene.

Handing the sentence, Judge Sheila Msibi highlighted the severe nature of the offences, noting that Monareng had violated the victim’s constitutional right to life. The court sentenced him to 8 years for housebreaking with intent to commit a crime, 15 years for each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 15 years for the murder of one victim, and 24 years for the murder of the other. Additionally, the court declared Monareng unfit to possess a firearm.

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