A South African court has handed down a severe sentence to a man who posed as a spiritual leader, convicting him for a series of horrific crimes against a mother and her daughter. The Limpopo High Court in Polokwane sentenced 36-year-old Mothupi Tjale Tau to three life terms in prison plus an additional 37 years.
Details of the Heinous Crimes
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) detailed the events that led to the conviction. The accused, Tau from Brooklyn in the Sekhukhune District, knew the victim, Hellen Teiwa Malepe. He had presented himself to her as a prophet offering spiritual guidance to her family.
The tragedy unfolded between 29 and 30 December 2023 at Oaks Village. Tau went to Hellen Malepe's home demanding money. He then forcefully dragged her from her house into nearby bushes, where he stabbed her multiple times and left her for dead. He also stole her cellphone.
In a further act of brutality, Tau returned to the house. There, he found Hellen's daughter, Kgaogelo Michelle Malepe. He strangled her until she was unconscious, raped her inside the home, and inflicted grievous bodily injuries on her, from which she later died at the scene.
Trauma for a Child and Legal Proceedings
The court heard that after killing the daughter, Tau turned his attention to a 5-year-old boy who was also in the house. He stuffed a jersey into the child's mouth, used masking tape to secure it, tied the boy's hands behind his back, and locked him inside the home. The child was left alone, exposed to the lifeless body of his sister.
Following a police investigation, Tau was arrested and remained in custody. During the trial, he pleaded not guilty, claiming he was not responsible. However, the state led evidence from multiple witnesses, and he was ultimately found guilty on all charges.
Court's Ruling and Societal Impact
In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, the court issued several other orders against Tau. His name will be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and is permanently ineligible to work with children.
Senior state advocate Lerato Mohlaka, arguing for a harsh sentence, emphasized the severity of the crimes. She stated that Tau had murdered a mother and daughter and exposed a young child to unimaginable trauma. The state also highlighted that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has been declared a national disaster in South Africa, and the court's sentence must reflect society's non-tolerance for such acts.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Ivy Thenga, welcomed the sentence. She praised Advocate Mohlaka and Investigating Officer Sergeant Shawn Mbhalati of the Hoedspruit Police Station for their work in securing the conviction. Thenga reaffirmed the NPA's commitment to aggressively prosecuting cases of sexual violence, which violate the constitutional rights to dignity and privacy.
