The Pretoria High Court sitting in Palm Ridge has sentenced a 57-year-old man to 25 years behind bars for the murder of a lesbian.
Mojalefa Simon Mokoena was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the murder of 28-year-old Bonang Precious Gaelae. Mokoena was sentenced for premeditated-murder, 8 years for attempted murder and five years for two counts of assault.
“On February 12, 2021, the deceased and her partner Francinah Mohanoe had gone to purchase airtime from the tuck shop which was inside a yard that Mokoena owned,” Lumka Mahanjana, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson said.
She said a fight broke out between Mokoena and the lesbian couple and he assaulted them. The couple left and went to buy airtime somewhere else. “As they left, Mokoena went to his house to get a knife and waited for them. When he saw them approaching, he threw a brick at them, which hit Mohanoe. He proceeded to stab her and her partner. The community members stopped Mokoena, called the police and took the couple to a nearby hospital where Gaelae was pronounced dead on arrival due to stab wounds,” Mahanjana said.
Mokoena was arrested for the murder and has been in custody ever since after he failed to get bail.
In her Victim Impact Statement, Gaelae’s mother spoke about her grief and how her daughter left behind two of her children. Mohanoe said she did not only lose the love of her life but also suffered financially because of her medical bills and is not suffering psychologically after she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Advocate Salome Scheepers told the court that gender-based violence and hate crimes are a profound and widespread problem in South Africa, impacting on almost every aspect of life. They are a violation of human rights. The accused was not provoked but targeted defenceless women even after they left his premises. She therefore asked the court to impose a sentence that will send a message to the community,” Mahanjana said.