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Crime & Accidents News
13 November 2020

Rustenburg The Mogwase High Court handed a life sentence on Monday 2 November, to a 44-year-old Rustenburg man found guilty of the brutal murder of his former girlfriend last year.

The state successfully proved that Vumile Davidson Manjo shot and killed Natasha Molapo on Saturday 2 February 2019, moments after he had arrived at her home. Apparently, Manjo could not come to terms with the decision by Molapo to end the relationship and decided to visit his former lover at her home on the fateful day of the murder.

When he arrived, Manjo was denied entry into the house by the housing complex security following Molapo’s instructions. He left but waited a short distance from the complex, knowing that the victim had to pass him on her way to work. The victim, driving to work and accompanied by a friend, saw his vehicle and made a sharp U-turn to return to the safety of the housing complex. Manjo pursued her to the security check point where she had stopped. He rushed over from his vehicle and shot her multiple times at close range while she was still seated in her vehicle.

Molapo’s traumatised friend, who was wounded during the ordeal, managed to flee the scene.

Molapo was declared dead on scene by emergency and medical rescue services (EMRS) and Manjo handed himself over to the police. He was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for murder, ten years for attempted murder, eight years for the unlawful possession of a firearm, as well as five years for the unlawful possession of ammunition.

Major-general Arthur Adams applauded the investigation officer warrant officer Thabo Mokgari for a job well done. “He did a sterling job and the judge commended him for a comprehensive murder investigation. Further, gender-based violence will not be tolerated and the safety of women and children remains a top priority,” Adams said.

Warrant officer Thabo Mokgari played a key role in the investigations.

 

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