Kabelo Masoabi
A 38-year-old Mokhotlong man, Liphapang Rasethuntša, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the brutal murder of his lover after pleading guilty to stabbing her 26 times in a jealous rage.
Acting Justice Tšooana Lesaoana handed down the sentence on Friday after Rasethuntša admitted to murdering 36-year-old Mahlophang Selisi of Salang Village, Mokhotlong. Ms Selisi was fatally attacked near her home on the evening of 17 November 2024.
Ms Selisi was said to be dating Rasethuntša and another man, Tšeliso Senoko, while her husband was away working in South Africa.
In passing sentence, Justice Lesaoana said the court had considered the nature of the relationship between the accused and the deceased, as well as the emotional circumstances that led to the killing.
“I have considered the fact that you and the deceased had a love relationship and that might have made you have expectations such as loyalty and trustworthiness from her,” the judge said.
Justice Lesaoana noted that Rasethuntša became enraged after discovering that Ms Selisi was involved with another man, Senoko, whose contact was saved in her cellphone as “My Husband”.
“It is my finding that a man in your position from the area where you come from would normally expect that from his lover, and I understand that the fact that she had a relationship with one Tšeliso, whom she referred to in her phone as ‘My Husband’, might have angered you.
“As a result of the pain and hurt caused by her conduct, you ended up committing the crime with which you were charged.”
The judge found that these factors constituted extenuating circumstances and therefore declined to impose the harsher sentence prescribed under the Penal Code.
In mitigation, the court also considered that Rasethuntša had been in custody since November 2024, voluntarily surrendered to police, pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for the killing.
The court further noted that he has two minor children who are being cared for by his 75-year-old mother, while the deceased also left behind two young children.
“I have also considered that the Crown urged this court to impose a sentence of not less than 30 years’ imprisonment to demonstrate society’s displeasure at this kind of crime,” Justice Lesaoana said.
“However, I have considered that you are capable of rehabilitation. You did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty. Nevertheless, this is a gender-based violence matter, and the court is deeply disturbed that a man could kill the very person he was expected to protect.
“I sentence you to 25 years’ imprisonment, and the sentence shall run from 18 November 2024, the date on which you were arrested.”
Plea for leniency
Before sentencing on 20 July 2026, Rasethuntša appealed for mercy, telling the court he had acted out of jealousy and frustration after discovering that Selisi, who was married, was romantically involved with another man, Tšeliso Senoko.
He said Ms Selisi admitted to the affair and that he later phoned Senoko, who allegedly threatened to shoot him if they ever met.
Rasethuntša also asked the court to consider his deteriorating health, saying he suffers from a terminal illness and is “consuming lifetime pills.”
He expressed willingness to contribute towards the upbringing of Ms Selisi’s two children.
“My wife deserted our family in 2018, leaving me with our two children aged 13 and 17. Since my detention in 2024, they have been under the care of my 75-year-old mother. I was their sole breadwinner, surviving through construction and other odd jobs,” he told the court.
Children witnessed the attack
During the trial, Ms Selisi’s two children gave emotional testimony describing how they witnessed their mother’s murder.
The siblings, aged 11 and 15 at the time, told the High Court that they saw Rasethuntša repeatedly stab their mother after ambushing her near the entrance to their home.
The court heard that at about 7pm on 17 November 2024, Selisi left home to collect a cellphone from a neighbour. When she failed to return, her children heard a scream, which the younger child immediately recognised as their mother’s voice.
They ran outside and found Rasethuntša pinning Ms Selisi to the ground while repeatedly stabbing her with a knife.
The children threw stones at him in an attempt to stop the attack.
They testified that they recognised the attacker by both his appearance and voice because he regularly visited their mother and spoke to her during the assault.
After the stabbing, Ms Selisi’s daughter told the court that she told him he would be arrested, but he walked away without responding.
Ms Selisi was rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment.
The court also heard that shortly before the murder, Ms Selisi had lodged a sexual assault complaint against Rasethuntša. He was arrested, later released on bail and, only days later, attacked and killed her.
Confession
In a written confession recorded before the Mokhotlong Magistrate’s Court on 19 November 2024, Rasethuntša admitted killing Selisi.
He said they had been in a romantic relationship and frequently exchanged mobile phones. While using her phone, he discovered a contact saved as “My Husband”.
Knowing that her actual husband was saved under her surname, “Selisi”, he confronted her, and she admitted to having a relationship with Mr Senoko.
He admitted slapping her and forcing her to phone Mr Senoko to end the relationship, resulting in a heated exchange between the two men.
He further claimed that Mr Senoko later threatened to shoot him during another phone call.
Rasethuntša also told the court that he later went to Ms Selisi’s home and believed he overheard her and Mr Senoko discussing plans to falsely implicate him in a sexual offence so that he would be imprisoned.
After being charged with a sexual offence and released on bail, he said he attempted to arrange a meeting before the local chief to resolve the dispute, but Ms Selisi allegedly refused.
“Later that night, I saw her and decided to take her life. I met her and asked why she was refusing a settlement. I stabbed her because she wanted me to go to jail for lies. I do not know what drove me to do that. After I heard that she had died, I surrendered myself to the police,” his confession stated.
Post-mortem findings
A post-mortem examination confirmed that Ms Selisi sustained 26 stab wounds to various parts of her body, including her neck, head, back, hands and thighs.
The murder weapon, a brown Okapi knife, was recovered and produced in court as an exhibit by the investigating officer, Detective Police Constable Letlatsa Letlala.