Man gets 21 years for FState Mayor’s murder
…A Lesotho man was on Thursday sentenced to 21 years’
imprisonment by the Bloemfontein High Court for killing Naledi
municipal mayor Motlatsi Motloi.
Free State Hawks spokesman Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said Senooe
Khaka, 24, entered into a plea bargain agreement with the State,
which sped-up his prosecution.
Khaka was arrested several weeks after Motloi, 32, was shot dead
in front of his house in Wepener at 8pm on May 3.
Motloi’s car was still running and the lights were on when
neighbours found him in the doorway of his home, after hearing the
shots.
Shortly afterwards, a community tip-off led to the arrests of
Naledi municipal official Caroline Mokhothu, 43, and her husband,
James, 34.
The Wepener Magistrate’s Court has postponed their case until
September 13 when a high court trial date is expected to be set.
They are in police custody.
The Naledi municipality, which includes Dewetsdorp, Wepener and
Vanstadensrus, has been plagued by infighting between councillors,
municipal officials and workers since 2006.
Recently, by-elections were held to elect a new council. The
provincial government disbanded the previous town council after
Motloi’s murder.
An administrator was also appointed to run the municipality’s
affairs. – Sapa
ore tlontlolotse eo motho ke ho rata chelete …….