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Limpopo men sentenced to life for decapitating teenager

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Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder after they were arrested in possession of a human head by the Polokwane High Court.

Edward Raatji and Stanley Mohlake were arrested two years ago, while attempting to sell a human head to a local businesswoman. DNA tests linked the head to 17-year-old Nthabiseng Mojela who was three months pregnant.

52 -year-old Raatj is a former teacher and official at the Gauteng Legislature and Law student while 32-year-old Stanley is a student.

Nthabiseng was murdered and her head was decapitated. Her body was found burnt at Mapela village in Mokopane in Limpopo.  The motive for her murder is believed to have been ritual purpose.

When handing down the sentence, Judge Matsaro Semenya said for Raatji and Mohlake to maintain that they were innocent until the end of the trial shows that they lack remorse for their action.

She said it is traumatic to know that Nthabiseng was alive when her head was decapitated.

Judge Semenya has also expressed concern about cases of ritual killings and human body parts sale in the province. Semenya says it is the responsibility of the judiciary to curb the high prevalence of murder cases and the sale of human body parts.

“Is the duty of this court to send a message out there that judicial officers will take their part curbing crime by imposing appropriate sentences.  The death of the deceased was unnecessary most cases dealing with ritual killings the handling of human body parts emanate from this province I therefore make the following order the two accused are sentenced to imprisonment for life.”

Nthabiseng Mojela’s family says they are relieved that her two murderers have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Family spokesperson, Petros Mojela says they are concerned that Raatji and Mohlake have made an application for leave to appeal the sentence.

“I can say we are happy we feel relieved we are only disappointed by the fact that they launched, they put an application for an appeal that can show you that the guy they don’t have remorse their application if it can go through and be let free once they set their feet in our place they will gonna be killed right way on the spot.”

Meanwhile, Raatji and Mohlake were convicted on the count of possession of human body part which they initially charged with when they were arrested.

NPA spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi says the court does not have jurisdiction to sentence people for removal of body parts.

“They were convicted for only for murder because the court has referred this matter to the one that was finalised in Bloemfontein this year for removal of body tissue because they said that they don’t have any section that deal with the sentencing of removal of body parts that why it was acquittal.”

Anita Campbell and Kiri Kgatle, the legal defense of both Raatji and Mohlake have made an application for leave to appeal the sentence.

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