—As three Mafeteng men are jailed for murder
—And judge labels act brutal, primitive, unacceptable
Moorosi Tsiane
ON FRIDAY, Justice Mabatšoeneng Hlaele sentenced three men from Mafeteng — Makhoalinyane Makhoalinyane, Paramente Motanyane, and Retšelisitsoe Makhoalinyane — to prison terms of 25, 20, and 15 years, respectively, for the 2018 murder of Neo Ralibaka at Mathebe.
The court heard that the men assaulted Ralibaka while he was grazing livestock on 18 November 2018, ultimately killing him by beating and slitting his throat.
Testimony from Crown witnesses Phuthi Phuthi, Mabatla, and Mohapi Liau detailed the attack.
According to Mr Phuthi who witnessed the event, the three accused confronted Ralibaka and when he tried to intervene, Motanyane warned him to stay away.
Mr Phuthi said he witnessed Retšelisitsoe hitting Ralibaka on the head with a stone, causing him to fall, after which Motanyane and Makhoalinyane continued beating him with sticks. The attackers then left the scene.
The police later came and found Ralibaka dead, lying in a pool of blood with serious head injuries and a slit throat. The other Crown witnesses corroborated Phuthi’s account of the events.
The accused claimed they acted in self-defence, alleging that Ralibaka threw stones at them after a dispute over insults he had supposedly directed at Koporale Motanyane, Paramente’s father.
Defense lawyer Advocate Moletsane called two witnesses: Koporale and Paramente.
Koporale testified that Ralibaka had insulted him for grazing livestock in family fields. After the argument, Koporale said he left Paramente to herd the animals while he went to inform the area chief.
Later, Paramente contacted him, saying there had been an altercation with Ralibaka and that they had left him on the ground.
Paramente, the second defense witness, explained that after his father left, he told Makhoalinyane what had happened, and they decided to confront Ralibaka.
Retšelisitsoe, Makhoalinyane’s brother, joined them on their way. According to Paramente, when they approached Ralibaka, he began throwing stones at them.
Although they tried to explain they wanted to talk, not fight, Ralibaka allegedly struck Retšelisitsoe with a stick and brandished a knife.
Judge Hlalele, in her ruling, noted that the Crown witnesses gave consistent accounts adding she agreed with their testimonies.
“I agree with the Crown that the accused acted out of intense anger. The deceased wanted no part in the conflict and turned away. Their testimonies supported each other. Motanyane’s act of slitting the victim’s throat showed a clear intention to kill, especially since the deceased was already down and defenseless,” Judge Hlaele said.
All three accused were convicted.
In mitigation, Adv Moeletsi pointed out that the accused were young and that Motanyane had acted under emotional distress after his father was insulted.
Adv Makentsi Thamae, representing the Crown, acknowledged there were extenuating circumstances.
After a brief 20-minute recess, Judge Hlalele announced the sentences: Makhoalinyane was sentenced to 20 years and ordered to pay M5000 within three years towards supporting the deceased’s family; Motanyane received 25 years and must pay M10,000 within eight years also towards the welfare of the victim’s family; while Retšelisitsoe was slapped with 15 years and must pay the family M5000 within five years.
“This was not an ordinary murder — it was brutal, primitive, and wholly unacceptable. It is deeply disturbing that such young people were involved. Makhoalinyane and Retšelisitsoe interfered in a matter that was not theirs. The court must emphasize that crime is never a solution,” Judge Hlalele said.