Tshegofatso Pule’s murderer accused of ‘opening scars’ by appealing his sentence

Members of Tshegofatso Pule’s family say they feel that Ntuthuko Shoba is simply opening the scars of their wounds.

This after Shoba approached the High Court in Johannesburg to seek leave to appeal his conviction and sentence.

He was sentenced to life for orchestrating the murder of Pule, who was Shoba’s girlfriend. She was eight-months pregnant when Muzikayise Malepane, who Shoba had hired, killed her.

The Acting Judge Stuart Wilson is expected to deliver judgment in the case on Monday. Pule’s uncle Tumisang Katake says Shoba has no strong grounds on which to appeal.

“It’s just wasting not only our time but also the court’s time. Shoba’s version was rejected, so I don’t see the reason why it should again be heard here in court. He can appeal until he turns blue, I don’t see this appeal being granted on Monday. We were beginning to get there as a family, to get used to the idea and also live with the idea that at least as a family, we fought, we won the battle, but now that process will be interrupted again by this kind of application.”

Pule’s family not surprised that her killer is appealing his sentence