The Zeerust Regional Court in South Africa’s North West province sentenced 36-year-old Ofentse Kotsedi to 28 years’ direct imprisonment for murdering his girlfriend, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
Kotsedi was convicted of murder under Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997.
The court heard that on 29 June 2024, Kotsedi went to the woman’s home while she was preparing dinner with her two children present. He asked her for money to buy alcohol and became angry when she said she had none.
One of the children witnessed the attack, in which Kotsedi brutally assaulted the woman and inflicted fatal injuries.
During sentencing, State Prosecutor Kagiso Modibedi argued for the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. The court found substantial and compelling circumstances to depart from that sentence, but imposed 28 years’ direct imprisonment.
The court also declared Kotsedi unfit to possess a firearm. It directed that the victim’s family be consulted in any future consideration of parole.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West Division welcomed the sentence, saying it sends a strong message that gender-based and domestic violence will not be tolerated.
