Polokwane court sentences man to life plus 33 years for two killings in Limpopo

The Polokwane High Court has sentenced Madimabe Mishack Sebelebele to life imprisonment plus 33 years after finding him responsible for two killings, a serious assault and a theft, the National Prosecuting Authority said.

Sentence handed down in August

Sebelebele, a 30-year-old man from Smashblock Village in Northam, appeared in court on Tuesday, 8 August 2026 when the sentence was imposed. He had pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and theft.

Events from June 2021 presented at trial

During the trial the court heard that on 04 June 2021 Sebelebele confronted a complainant about an alleged affair involving his girlfriend, Nthabeleng Mohale. According to the NPA, Sebelebele hit the complainant with a beer bottle and stabbed him with a knife.

The NPA said Sebelebele then went in search of Mohale and, upon finding her, stabbed her to death. In a separate incident on the same day, the accused was at a drinking place with a second man, Matome Philip Maoto, when an argument ensued. Maoto walked away, the NPA said, but Sebelebele followed, stabbed him to death and robbed him of his cellphone.

Prosecution submissions and court remarks

NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi said State Advocate Envar Robin Hartnick told the court that at the time of her death Mohale had applied for a protection order because she feared for her life.

“He further submitted that the accused committed the second murder while on bail and that the attacks were violent and brutal. The State argued that the primary aims of sentencing are prevention and deterrence and that society must be protected from persons such as the accused.”

Malabi said the State concluded there were no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from prescribed minimum sentences.

“In handing down sentence, the court remarked that South Africa is among the countries with the highest murder rates in the world and that victims are not just names in an indictment but real people who occupy space in this world. The court stated that there must be consequences for unlawfully taking a life and that the accused showed little respect for human life,”

Malabi said.

Reaction from the DPP

The Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Advocate Ivy Thenga, welcomed the sentence and emphasised the importance of human life.

“We will be vigorous in our pursuit of such cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers.”

She also commended the prosecution and investigation team for their work, the NPA said.

The accused had pleaded not guilty to all charges during the trial, the NPA reported.