The judge found Tumelo Mothathego guilty of murdering his 20-year-old Zimbabwean girlfriend, Fortune Moyo in Senyawe village in the North East. "The accused is sentenced to 18 years imprisonment from which the period of two years nine months during which he was in custody awaiting trial shall be deducted," said Chinhengo. Mothathego is said to have killed Moyo by chopping her with a home made axe on the neck and hitting her with a hoe handle.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and explained that he called Moyo and asked her to clean his hut but she declined. He became angry and hit her with an axe on the head until she lay motionless. He then went to the local police to report himself. His mother, Matilda Mothathego, brother Kagiso Mothathego, sister Phemelo Mothathego and Sepheni Timela tried to save Moyo but the accused threatened anyone who came near him. The accused occupied a separate hut in his parents' yard. Moyo hailed from Ezimnyama village, Zimbabwe. She used to visit the accused regularly and spend weeks together with him. Their children were staying with the accused's parents.
