Two s*x workers have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, for the m*rder of a 29-year-old client in Sandton.
Phindi Mjonondwane, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson for Gauteng, announced the sentences on Friday, October 4, 2024. The sentences include life imprisonment for m*rder, 15 years for robbery, and six months for theft.
On the night of April 13, 2019, Refilwe Mokgotlo (29) and her accomplice, Julia Rihlampfu (33), traveled from Pretoria to a pub in Fourways in search of clients. At around 3 a.m., the victim accepted their services and accompanied them to his residence in Sandton. After purchasing food, the victim engaged in consensual s*x with Mokgotlo while Rihlampfu remained in another room. However, an altercation broke out during the encounter.
Warrant Officer Mojapelo, the Investigating Officer, testified for the state, revealing evidence that Mokgotlo strangled the victim with a charger cable until he died. She then left his lifeless body, which was discovered when the victim’s father, unable to reach him, contacted a family friend. The friend accessed the residence and found the body on the floor, subsequently alerting the police.
Video footage from the complex showed the victim entering his home with the two women, who were later seen leaving with his house keys. A cellphone cord was found around the victim’s neck, and bank slips were discovered on the bed. Fingerprints collected from the scene matched those of the accused, further implicating them in the crime.
Senior State Advocate Evelyn Moseki highlighted aggravating factors, stating that the accused exploited the victim’s generosity when he invited them into his home. She emphasized the br*tal nature of the victim’s death and the callousness of abandoning his body. The court agreed, noting the duo’s shocking lack of remorse for their actions.
The NPA welcomes the sentence, viewing it as a reflection of the crime’s severity and a step toward justice for the victim and his family.