Johannesburg - As the murder of their daughter took its toll on them, the family of Rachel “Dolly” Tshabalala took solace in prayer.
On Monday, they heaved sighs of relief after their first step towards their wish for justice was realised when Tshabalala’s boyfriend, Donald Sebolai, was convicted of her murder.
Tshabalala’s mother Elizabeth Marawa, said she had been praying for retribution.
“We are relieved, God is good. We just kept praying for this day to come,” she said, moments after Sebolai was found guilty in the high court sitting in Palm Ridge.
“All we can do now is wait until the sentencing and pray that justice will continue to prevail,” Marawa added.
In addition to being found guilty of murder, Sebolai, a former Jozi FM DJ, was also found guilty of trying to defeat the ends of justice after he changed Tshabalala’s clothes and cleaned the crime scene after the murder.
Sebolai stabbed Tshabalala to death with a steak knife in June last year during an altercation. It was revealed during judgment that Sebolai had abused his girlfriend at least three times before her death.
Judge Cassim Moosa acknowledged the couple’s troubled relationship but dismissed Sebolai’s claim that he had acted in self-defence.
“The accused clearly knew what he was doing when he stabbed the deceased.
“He did not act in self-defence. He did not take her to the hospital after she was stabbed but instead mopped up the blood… He clearly intended for her to die,” Judge Moosa said.
Tshabalala’s family, some of whom came to court wearing T-shirts emblazoned with her face, sobbed in the public gallery as the details of her murder were recounted.
While the court convicted Sebolai of murder and obstructing the ends of justice, the charge of stealing Tshabalala’s car after her death was dropped.
Sebolai’s aunt, who asked not to be named, said the family had hoped that everything would be over on Monday.
“We’d hoped he would be sentenced today too. It has been hard for us to be in this situation. We just want to know what’s going to happen,” the aunt said.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindi Louw said they were satisfied with the outcome.
“This sends a very strong message to those who commit gender-based violence. We will make sure to impose a sentence that befits the crime,” Louw said. “We hope this will deter those from committing such crimes.”
Sebolai’s bail was revoked but his defence team said he would appear in court on Thursday to apply for bail, pending sentencing on November 25.
The Star