Muzikayise Malephane, an accomplice in the brutal murder of 28-year old Tshegofatso Pule, has pleaded guilty and received a 20-year jail term from the High Court in Johannesburg after entering into a plea agreement with the state.
Malephane was arrested while travelling back to Gauteng from Mpumalanga this month.
In June last year, an eight-month pregnant Pule’s body was found in an open veld in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. Her body was hanging from a tree and had stab wounds to the chest.
Malephane’s lawyer told the court that his client had been hired by Pule’s boyfriend to kill her. He says the boyfriend didn’t want his wife to find out that Pule was pregnant.
Gauteng Police Spokesperson, Mathapelo Peters, says, “The 32-year-old suspect was arrested at his place of residence on Thursday evening, 18 February in Florida on suspicion of being an accomplice in the murder of Tshegofatso Pule who was killed in June last year. The suspect is expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday 22nd February 2021.”
Pule’s family expresses shock, disappointment on latest revelations:
Malephane admits to killing Tshegofatso Pule
His lawyer revealed that his client had been hired to kill Pule by her boyfriend, referred to only as Shoba.
Malephane was allegedly offered R70 000 to make Pule’s death look like a suicide. It is understood Shoba has been taken in for questioning.
Pule, who was last seen leaving her boyfriend’s home, had been eight months pregnant at the time.
Malephane was arrested while travelling back to Gauteng from Mpumalanga.
The murder sent shockwaves throughout the country amid the scourge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Wise4Africa releases GBV and Femicide report:
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