The Pretoria High Court on Tuesday sentenced Onthatile Sebati (23), for orchestrating a cold-blooded family massacre in Mmakau, north-west of Pretoria.
Sebati was sentenced along with her two mercenary cousins, Tumelo and Kagiso Mokone to life in prison for four counts of murder.
She was only 15 years old in 2016 when she premeditated a plot to wipe out her entire family and hired her two cousins to carry out the hit.
She murdered her father Solomon Lucky (a police constable), mother Mmatshepo (a nurse), 19-year-old pregnant sister Tshegofatso and six-year-old brother Quinton at their home at Mmakau in December 2016.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Tumelo (25) and Kagiso Mokone (25) were sentenced to four life terms each for the murders and. 15 years each for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
They were also charged with five years each for theft, five years each for possession of a firearm, and an additional five years each for possession of ammunition.
Mahanjana said Sebati, now 23, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for each of the murders.
She added that Sebati was also sentenced to 10 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, five years for theft, five years for possession of a firearm, and another five years for possession of ammunition.
“Sebati was sentenced in accordance with the Child Justice Act, Sections 69 and 77 of the Criminal Procedure Act,” Mahanjana said.
She said the judge ordered that Sebati’s sentence be backdated to her arrest on December 16, 2021.
“Additionally, the Judge ruled that all sentences for the three individuals would run concurrently, and they were declared unfit to possess a firearm. An order for the search and seizure of their premises was also granted.”
Mahanjana said on December, 6, 2016, Tumelo and Kagiso Mokone collected Sebati’s father’s firearm during the day.
“That evening, Sebati pretended to dispose of water, but in reality, she opened the gate for her accomplices and handed Kagiso her father’s car keys.”
Mahanjana added that Tumelo then entered the house and fatally shot the 42-year-old police officer, 40-year-old nurse, teen, and boy.
She said Sebati paid them R100 000 for the murders.
“The two men fled the scene in Sebati’s father’s car but abandoned it shortly afterwards when it got stuck in the mud.”
Mahanjana said on December 16, 2021, Sebati turned herself in to police and confessed to the crime, leading to the arrest of Tumelo and Kagiso on December 18, 2021.
“Both men also made confessions to the police, detailing their roles in the murders. However, during the trial, all three pleaded not guilty and disputed the confessions. After a trial-within-a-trial, the judge ruled the confessions admissible.”
Prosecutor Advocate Eric Sihlangu led evidence proving that Sebati had arranged the murder of her family, paying Tumelo and Kagiso R50 000 each for the crime.
“Kagiso’s fingerprints were also found in the stolen vehicle, further implicating him,” Mahanjana said.
She said during sentencing, Tumelo and Kagiso asked for leniency, citing their age (18 at the time of the offences) and lack of previous criminal activity.
“However, Advocate Sihlangu asked the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentences, arguing that the seriousness of the crimes, coupled with a lack of remorse, warranted no lesser punishment.”
Judge Mashudu Mudzhelele concurred, noting that despite their young age, the accused had committed heinous acts and posed a significant threat to society.
She emphasised that their lack of remorse indicated a failure to take responsibility for their actions, and therefore, the sentences handed down were appropriate.
Mahanjana said the NPA welcomed the sentencing.
