The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed a life sentencing that was handed down to a murderer, Thabo Silas Tsotetsi (41). Tsotetsi was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court which was sitting in Delmas yesterday, Wednesday 06 March 2024.
The badly decomposed body of Nosipho Caroline Mthombeni (34) was found concealled in the ceiling at Totetsi’s house in Balfour.
This shocking discovery was made on 04 October 2022 by a female companion who shares a child with the accused. It is said that this woman went to the house and had an unpleasant smell but not knowing what might have been the cause of it (smell).
Read the origional story dated 5 October 2022 HERE.
According to information, at first when she confronted Tsotetsi, she was made to believe that the smell could have been caused by dead rats on the ceiling.
Tsotetsi allegedly left her alone in the house after informing her that he was going to pay some bills but never returned.
Days later, the woman reported the matter to the Police who investigated and it was during this period when the members at Balfour discovered the decomposed body of a female whose gender was only identified through polished nails and shoes according to a statement received by the Bulletin.
Later through investigation, it became known that the body was that of Mthombeni who was in a relationship with the accused.
It took six months though for the Investigation team to track down Tsotetsi in Witbank on 14 April 2023 and arrested him. He was then charged with murder.
Tsotetsi made his first court appearance in Balfour Magistrate’s Court on 17 April 2023. He was remanded in custody. Thereafter, the case was transferred to the High Court where he made several court appearances which led to his sentencing to life imprisonment.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, further commended the investigation team for the intense and professional probe conducted. The General also thanked the Prosecution team as well as the Judiciary which all culminated into the harsh sentence that was imposed upon the accused. “We are delighted with the sentence and we hope it will serve as a deterrence to perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence. The wheels of Justice are surely turning to address crimes perpetuated against women and the vulnerable groups, ” said the General to the Bulletin.
