Ivan Magokane, the man accused of shooting and killing the City of Cape Town’s first black female scientific officer, received a 45-year prison sentence.
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The Western Cape High Court handed down the sentence just one day after Magokane reportedly cried in court, stating that he was sorry for murdering Mpharu Hloyi on 28 March 2022.
The incident occurred at the Athlone Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cape Town, where Magokane’s ex-fiance, Dr Shirley Malema, worked. News24 previously reported that Malema described Magokane as abusive, prompting her to end the relationship.
However, Magokane would visit her unexpectedly, complicating the relationship further. In one instance, he gave her two bullets, stating, ‘These are for you’, causing her to believe that he would kill her.
On the day of the incident, Magokane showed up at Malema’s office in a different car, asking to speak to Hloyi. Hloyi then notified Malema, who warned the police that he was armed.
Despite offering counselling assistance to Magokane, Hloyi was shot during an apparent scuffle as he pretended to leave. She sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
As per IOL, Magokane then proceeded to fire several shots at Malema and two other staffers.
Acting Deputy Judge President Andre le Grange convicted him on one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of assault against Malema.
Le Grange described Hloyi as the ‘heart of her household’, stating that the trauma and hurt her family experienced were evident during the trial.
He added that Magokane showed no remorse. ‘She (Malema) simply refused to be treated as a possession and to assert his male dominance, he had the audacity to assault her,’ he added.
‘The killing of the deceased was a show of brutal force against a defenceless woman who was only trying to mediate between the couple.’
Magokane was given a life sentence for Hloyi’s murder, as well as 10 years imprisonment for each count of attempted murder and six months imprisonment for assault. The sentences will be served concurrently, resulting in an effective 25-year prison term.
Hloyi’s sister, Motlatsi Mpete, says the family accepts the sentence even though it won’t bring the mom of three back. ‘We are happy with the sentence and we agree that he had no remorse. The court did say he regretted what he did, but we believe he only regretted that he got caught.’
‘She was a spiritual woman who was a gender-based violence (GBV) activist and a community leader. As a family, we feel her loss.’
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Picture: City of Cape Town