Johannesburg - Gender-based violence perpetrator and murderer Lungile Nxelelwa will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
He was handed two life terms and a five-year sentence at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
Nxelelwa was convicted of the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Keneilwe Pule, from Sebokeng. He raped and killed her before setting her body on fire in 2019.
The court heard Nxelelwa showed no remorse and evidence gathered by pathologists indicated the victim had suffered grievous injuries to her genitalia and anus.
It is understood the couple were in a three-year relationship. Their fight started in Orange Farm before it escalated to Sebokeng, where Pule was murdered. Nxelelwa had lied to the court when he stated Pule insulted him when they were at a neighbour’s house.
Pule’s aunt, Manana Seaga, said the sentencing opened up old wounds for the family as they were trying to heal. “It’s been dragging. We’ve been trying to forget but we’re happy with the outcome.”
Seaga said the family was torn when they discovered how their daughter was killed. “We found all sorts of weapons, grenades, kettle ropes, knobkerries and knives, it was daunting.”
Seaga said Nxelelwa’s family was scared of him, and would be relieved with the sentencing.
“We do communicate with his mother. His mother was actually scared of him. She will also be at peace that justice has been served.
“He is not the right person to live in our communities; he can kill, rape countless times a lifeless body. It’s good that he will stay in jail.”
The Gauteng Community Safety Department ring-fenced the case through its family justice unit to ensure psycho-social support and assistance was rendered to the families and victims of gender-based violence in the province.
The department’s HOD, Sipho Thanjekwayo, said they were satisfied with the conviction and sentence. “If you do such a horrible thing against women, the justice system will catch up with you. We hope this will send a strong message to others that there is no place for abusers in our country.”
Thanjekwayo said the department would continue with its GBV initiatives across the province.
“We want to encourage witnesses to keep coming forward because sometimes they tend to be reluctant and question the justice system.”
Nxelelwa’s defence team tried to appeal the sentence, but the State opposed the application.
Meanwhile, murder accused Themba Mothogoane, accused of brutally killing Soweto student Phuthi Ramara, abandoned his bail application at the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The accused, 35, stunned the victim’s family and community members in attendance as he had previously indicated he would be applying for bail. The family welcomed the news.
Sibongile Ramara, the victim’s mother, expressed relief he had abandoned bail. “I am very happy with today’s outcome. I was worried how they could they give someone who has killed bail.”
Agnes Ramara, the slain woman’s grandmother, and who had been actively involved with her upbringing, said she was satisfied.
"I am really happy. I want this man to stay in jail because he killed my child brutally,” she said.
Sibongile and Agnes expressed the wish Mothogoane would be convicted and others involved would be arrested as well.
Sibongile said: “The only wish I have is for him to be convicted. Another thing that bothers me is the fact that he is the only one arrested, and not the others that were with him.
“However, I am happy he is inside, but in my heart I have a belief he didn’t do this alone.”
Community members of Protea Glen extension 12 gathered outside the court with the family to celebrate yesterday’s outcome.
One community member, who did not want to be named, said: “He made the right choice on bail. We were not going to allow him to walk freely after what he did. He is clearly a flight risk.”
Mothogoane was apprehended trying to skip the country. A tip-off led to his arrest.
Phuti's life was cut short while visiting her mother in Protea Glen ext 12. Her body was found on a playground in Glen ext 31, raped and strangled with her pants during the 16 days of Activism last year.
The Star