Man found guilty of brutal murder
REPORTER THE DREAM of a nine-year-old girl, whose mother was stabbed 19 times, was to become a police officer “so I can kill the person who murdered my mother”.
Thandeka Plaatjie was stabbed 19 times by Joel Mokomela at her house in Jan Kempdorp on December 28, 2014 after a night out.
Mokomela was found guilty in the Northern Cape High Court yesterday of murder as well as theft after he took his victim’s flat-screen television following the incident.
Thandeka’s older sister, Boniwe Plaatjie, said during her tearful testimony in court that her family was having a hard time dealing with the death.
Their father’s health had deteriorated after the murder and he died a month later.
“Before he died, he would wake up screaming and said he had visions of Thandeka telling him that she had been killed for a television set,” said Boniwe.
She said the family had to switch off his life-support after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Boniwe added that Thandeka’s daughter also needed counselling to deal with her loss.
“Her teacher said that she told the class that she wanted to become a policeman when she grew up so that she could kill the person who murdered her mother.
“I don’t know what to tell her about the motive for her mother’s death. Do I say her mother was killed for two beers?”
According to a statement by the accused, he went to Jan Kempdorp to visit a friend and they had gone out that night, where they met up with the deceased at a tavern.
Mokomela said he later took Thandeka back to her house where they had intercourse and he then told her to go and buy cigarettes and beers.
He said that when she came back, one of Thandeka’s friends arrived at the house and an argument broke out between Thandeka and the friend, who grabbed a knife.
Mokomela said he went to call his friend and when they arrived back, they found that Thandeka had been stabbed.
However, the friend testified in court that he had told Mokomela that Thandeka was not someone who slept with men who were drunk.
Judge Cecil Williams, in handing down her judgement, said that she found Mokomela’s version of events unlikely, pointing out that he was the only person who knew about the injuries to the deceased.
“The accused said that the deceased had a stab wound to the chin and cheek. These injuries were pointed out by the doctor. The accused also said he saw the deceased on the bed,” said Williams.
She said with regards to the robbery charges, there were no witnesses who could support the accused’s version.
“It might be that the accused took the television as payment for buying the deceased drinks. In this regard there is benefit of doubt for the deceased and he is guilty of theft,” she said.
Sentencing has been postponed to today.