A 55-year-old man, Silah Phillemon Moila, from Ga-Ntata village was convicted and sentenced by the Tzaneen Regional Court to two life terms of imprisonment and additional six years for murder and rape of his mother aged 91.
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According to the court report, the deceased is the accused ‘s mother. The conviction and sentence emanate from the incident that took place on 24 February 2024 at Ga-Ntata village. The accused pleaded guilty to all the charges put against him, and the state accepted his guilty plea.
The court heard that on the day of the incident at about 22:00, the accused found his mother inside her room and demanded money to buy liquor, and the victim indicated that she didn’t have money. He then raped and killed her.
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The Limpopo NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi says in aggravation of the sentence, the Regional Court prosecutor, Emmanuel Phatudi, argued that the victim died a very painful death in the hands of a person who was supposed to be her protector.
The state further submitted that the fact that the accused person pleaded guilty is not sufficient to warrant to deviation from the prescribed minimum sentences of life imprisonment. The state concluded by submitting that the accused has demonstrated a lack of respect for women (his mother, for that matter) and that he is not a suitable candidate for rehabilitation, and that he should be removed from society permanently and also that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances warranting a lesser sentence.
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The Regional Court Magistrate, Antolize Lamminga, agreed with the state that the deceased died in a very humiliating manner at the hands of her son. The court further indicated that there are no substantial and compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Ivy Thenga welcomed the sentence, reaffirming the NPA’s unwavering commitment to ensuring justice for victims and holding perpetrators of violent crime accountable.
“This outcome demonstrates the NPA’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and protecting the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Adv. Thenga.
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She also commended State Prosecutor Mr. Phatudi and Investigating Officer Sergeant Sizeka Ngobeni of Mokwakwaila Police Station for their diligent work, which was instrumental in securing this conviction.
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“Their professionalism and tenacity reflect the strength of our collaborative efforts within the criminal justice system,” she added.
