…as suspect awaits verdict in alleged love-triangle killing
Kabelo Masoabi
EMOTIONS ran high in the High Court in Tšifa-li-Mali this past week as a 47-year-old man charged with murder broke down in tears while expressing remorse for killing a man he believed was having an affair with his wife of 14 years.
A heavy silence engulfed the courtroom as Seabata Mokete from Berea struggled to compose himself while addressing the family of the deceased, Morero Tšoanamatsie, from the dock. Speaking in a trembling voice, he paused repeatedly to wipe away tears.
“I want the family of the deceased to know that, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry for the pain I caused them,” he said.
“Even people from my village can tell you that I am not a violent person. I love peace, and I value families.”
His emotional statement visibly moved some members of the public gallery as he openly wept while recounting the events leading up to the fatal confrontation.
According to evidence presented before the court, the incident stemmed from Mokete’s discovery that Tšoanamatsie was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with his wife — a revelation that reportedly shattered his marriage, which had produced three children.
Throughout his testimony, Mokete described himself as a peaceful family man whose life had been torn apart by the circumstances.
“I feel like I am burning alive because I think about it every day since it happened. All I wanted was to talk things out with Tšoanamatsie and my wife,” he told the court.
Mokete testified that on 24 March 2023, he and his wife were shopping at Lihlabeng Mall in Bethlehem, South Africa. While his wife was purchasing undergarments, she asked him to take her cell phone to a nearby Vodacom shop to have a screen protector fitted.
As he walked toward the shop, the phone vibrated. Upon checking it, he saw a message that he said changed his life forever.
“Babe, I really enjoyed you,” the message read.
Shocked and confused, Mokete said he sat on a nearby bench and began scrolling through the WhatsApp conversation, where he allegedly discovered explicit messages and a nude photograph of a man saved as “KK Financial Services.”
He immediately confronted his wife, who later admitted to having an extramarital affair with the man and told him he was from the Botha-Bothe district.
According to Mokete, the couple abandoned their shopping trip and drove to Botha-Bothe in search of the man.
“I was deeply hurt, but I tried to remain calm. I could not believe that my wife, whom I trusted so much, could do that to me. My intention was to meet the man and reprimand both him and my wife so that the affair could stop,” he said.
Upon arrival at a business container branded “KK Financial Services,” Mokete left his wife in the vehicle and entered the office, where he found Tšoanamatsie seated with two employees working on accounting books.
After identifying him, the two men stepped outside to talk privately. However, the discussion quickly escalated into a heated argument that turned violent.
Mokete alleged that Tšoanamatsie struck him first and told him to leave him alone, claiming he had already ended the affair upon learning the woman was married.
“He referred to my wife as ‘that bitch,’” Mokete testified, adding that the remark further enraged him.
As the confrontation intensified, Mokete claimed Tšoanamatsie produced a knife. He said he struck the man’s hand, causing the weapon to fall.
During the struggle that followed, Mokete managed to grab the knife.
“I do not remember how many times I stabbed him,” he said quietly. “I only remember leaving after he fell to the ground and went back inside the office crawling.”
Realising the seriousness of the injuries, Mokete later surrendered himself to the Botha-Bothe Police Station, where he was arrested.
One of the employees, Monare Shabalala, told the court that Mokete appeared calm and composed when he arrived.
“He was a very collected man asking us who Morero was,” Shabalala testified. “He even showed a picture on a phone, saying he was looking for the man in it.”
According to Shabalala, Tšoanamatsie then stood up and suggested they speak outside.
Another Crown witness, Kamohelo Makhabane, testified that during the stabbing, she heard a voice from the accused’s vehicle shouting, “Babe, don’t stab him.”
A police officer, Constable Mahlekenyane, confirmed in an admitted statement that Mokete was arrested after surrendering himself. A brown Okapi knife was recovered as part of the investigation.
A post-mortem examination revealed the severity of the attack, with two stab wounds to the chest, two deep wounds to the back, and additional injuries to the head, arm and thigh.
Before the trial began, the court heard that Mokete had contributed a cow toward the burial of Tšoanamatsie and had expressed willingness to compensate the bereaved family following a civil claim.
However, mediation efforts failed after the parties could not agree on compensation, leading to the continuation of the trial.
The case is ongoing before Justice Itumeleng Shale.