Man buried son alive after bitter divorce
A 36-YEAR-OLD Limpopo man has been sentenced to 36 years in jail for the murder of his 5-year-old son after he buried the little boy alive in 2019.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu MalabiDzhangi said Lai Phepheng, from Ngwanamatle Village in Jane Furse, appeared in the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday.
“Judge President Ephraim Makgoba found Phepheng guilty of killing Thato Phepheng on December 1, 2019. Phepheng was sentenced to 20 years for murder, and he also received another two additional years for defeating the ends of justice,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
“On December 1, 2019, Phepheng took the child from his grandmother’s home in Germiston while the mother was at work. He brought him to Jane Furse. He then buried the child alive in the shallow grave in his yard.”
Phepheng was arrested a few days later after he was confronted by the community of Ngwanamatle.
”He pleaded guilty to the charges and stated that he was very angry because the mother divorced him,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
State prosecutor, advocate Sontaga Malefahlo, asked the court to impose a harsh punishment on Phepheng, saying the father had killed an innocent child over his separation from his mother.
“The killing of the deceased was brutal. He knew very well that his son was a very little innocent boy but he did not care about the little soul.
“Although the accused did show remorse and pleaded guilty to the charges, the court should impose a harsh punishment on the accused because he killed the deceased for no reason,” Malefahlo said.
“Killing of women and children has become a serious problem in our country and the courts must send a message that these evil actions will not go unpunished.”
Judge President Makgoba concurred with Malefahlo, sentencing Phepheng to 20 years in jail for murder, and an additional two years for defeating the ends of justice.
The sentences will run concurrently.