South African Man Bags Life Sentence For Killing His Pregnant Wife.

A 41-year-old South African man, Thapelo Edwin Mojaki, has been given a life sentence for the murder of his pregnant wife, Matshidiso Catherine Mojaki, 36.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and was handed the sentence at the Taung Regional Court, North West, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

His conviction emanates from an incident on October 09 2022, at Kolong village near Taung, where Mojaki approached his wife, who was on her way to catch a taxi to work, accompanied by their 16 and 18-year-old children.

He subsequently asked for money, and when she said she didn’t have any, he took out sheep sheering scissors and stabbed her several times. She was declared dead on the scene. Mojaki was arrested the following day, and the court denied him bail.

In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Tecia Khula, urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, as there were no compelling circumstances to differ.

She further highlighted the trauma experienced by their children, who shared their pregnant mother being stabbed to death by their father. In imposing the sentence, Magistrate Buti Zulu agreed with the state and remarked that the accused was responsible for protecting his family and not being a perpetrator of crime towards them.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, and the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded all role players to ensure the perpetrator is brought to book.

They further called on strong advocacy against gender-based violence and femicide in communities.