The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the life imprisonment sentence handed down to a man who killed his girlfriend.
On the evening of Thursday, 26 September 2024, Refiloe Letshedi was found murdered at Thabeng village. Members of the Nebo-Jane Furse tracking team were immediately summoned, and investigations resumed from the day the matter was reported.
The docket was transferred to the Nebo-Jane Furse tracking team for further investigation and assigned to Detective Sergeant Kabelo Shokane.
Although the suspect behind the killing was initially unknown, the court heard that during the course of investigations, it was determined that the deceased was killed by her boyfriend, Themba Mashiloane. The team worked around the clock to gather evidence linking the suspect to the crime. After a thorough investigation, the team traced and arrested Mashiloane on 27 September 2024. The deceased’s cellphone was found in his possession.
Detective Sergeant Kabelo Shokane successfully opposed bail since the suspect’s arrest in 2024. While the motive for the killing was initially unknown, the investigation later revealed that the deceased wanted to end her romantic relationship with the suspect, which he did not accept.
Following multiple court appearances at the Nebo Magistrate Court, the matter was transferred to the Nebo Regional Court. The investigating officer gathered sufficient evidence, providing the court with overwhelming evidence against the accused, who was found guilty.
On Tuesday, 31 March 2026, the Nebo Regional Court found Mashiloane guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.