Man gets 2 life terms in prison after being on the run for 15 years for murder
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Police in the Free State have finally found a conviction for a man who was regarded as one of the top most wanted nationally after duck and diving police for over 14 years.
Thapelo Samuel Mokoena (41) from Makwane Village in Qwaqwa have been on the run since August 23 2004 where together with his three co-accused arrived at Dankbaarheid Farm District Bethlehem and brutally murdered Johanna Katherine Van Niekerk (79) and her gardener Tololo Elias Tsholo (43).
They also attacked two domestic workers where one was missed by a bullet and another one shot in the hip.
This is according to Police Spokesperson in the province Brigadier Motantshi Makhele who said that Mokoena escaped lawful police custody after being found guilty together with his three co-accused and went back into hiding since then.
“On the 28 August 2020 Thapelo was rearrested after a yearlong search. He was found working at Hlanganani Mine in Driefontein near Carletonville and was staying there with his family.”
“On the 2 June 2020, he was sentenced to 2x life imprisonment for two murders, 10 years each for two attempted murders.”
“The sentences will run concurrently and he will serve two lives imprisonment” said Brigadier.
