Photos: Court sentences two South African men and a juvenile to life imprisonment for murder

Two men from South Africa and a juvenile were on Wednesday 19th July sentenced to life imprisonment by Mokerong Regional court on charges of murder. 

Johannes Madiba 32 years old and Thapelo Kgosana 21 years old were sentenced to life imprisonment whereas an 18 years old juvenile was sentenced to a diversion program for three years and upon turning 21, he will then serve two more years in prison making it a sum total of five years.

The three were convicted for the murder of Martin Sekanka Lebelo, 29 years old, who was waiting for the initiates he was to transport home on the morning of their graduation. 

The incident took place last year on 16th day of June 2017 which was remark as youth day. The accused found the deceased parked in the bush waiting and started accusing him of being a stock thief. The three then stoned him to death.

Welcoming the sentence, the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba stated that these sentences should send a clear message that our criminal justice system does not tolerate any acts of vigilantism. 

"We've always said people must desist from taking the law into their own hands but should instead cooperate with the police to fight  crime."