Bohome’s killers sentenced to life in SA

Staff Reporter

TWO men who gunned down famo musician, Moholi “Bohome” Mohapi, and another man at the Maseru Bridge border post in 2024 have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a South African court.

Tumelo Tsiu (32) and Lineo Walatsa (30), both Basotho, were sentenced by the Ficksburg High Court on Thursday, 23 October 2026, following their conviction for the June 2024 double murder that shocked communities on both sides of the Lesotho-South Africa border.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State announced the convictions and sentences, saying the two accused had been apprehended in Lesotho in July 2024 and extradited to South Africa to face justice.

“The South African Police Service in the Free State has secured the conviction and sentencing of two accused who were extradited from Lesotho after committing a double murder that shocked the community in June 2024,” the police said in a statement issued yesterday.

The court sentenced the pair to life imprisonment on each of the two murder counts and two attempted murder counts. They were also sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for being in South Africa illegally.

However, they were acquitted of charges relating to possession of an unlicensed firearm and conspiracy to commit murder.

The case stems from a shooting at the long-distance taxi drop-off point near the Maseru Bridge Port of Entry on 11 June 2024.

Bohome, 31, and Rebone David Sephaka, popularly known as Serurubele, 40, both from the outlawed Terene ea Chakela group, were shot dead shortly after alighting from a taxi travelling from Johannesburg at around 4am.

According to SAPS, police were summoned to the scene following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found the two men lying in pools of blood next to the taxi.

The police said the alleged gunmen had arrived in a white Isuzu bakkie, disembarked and opened fire on passengers getting out of the Johannesburg-bound taxi before fleeing.

“An unknown number of males disembarked from a white Isuzu bakkie and opened fire on passengers exiting the taxi,” SAPS said.

A swift police response led to the interception of the bakkie along the R26 near Manyatseng, outside Ladybrand. Two suspects allegedly fled into the darkness, leaving the driver behind.

Police subsequently searched the vehicle and recovered a 9mm firearm, which was confiscated.

“The driver, Seun Gert Moloi (30), was arrested, appeared in the Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court, and was granted bail of R8000,” the statement said.

SAPS said Moloi later died after being shot five times, two weeks before the trial commenced.

The two accused faced charges of murdering Bohome and Serurubele, attempting to murder two other men identified as Mr Sekantsi and Mr Pitso, possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, conspiracy to commit murder, and contravening South Africa’s Immigration Act.

The extradition followed cooperation between the SAPS and Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).

“The extradition follows months of meticulous collaboration between SAPS and Lesotho law enforcement agencies, facilitated through international legal frameworks,” the statement said.

The two men initially appeared before the Ladybrand Magistrates’ Court on 7 January 2025. The matter was postponed to 13 January 2025 for the appointment of legal representation.

The killings occurred amid concerns over violence involving members of rival famo music groups, whose feuds have claimed numerous lives in Lesotho and surrounding areas.