Tebogo Msimanga |
North West High Court found Boitshoko Abednigo Swanepoel, guilty of two counts of murder and two of attempted murder. A pre-sentence report will be presented in court on 28 April 2023, followed by sentencing on the same day. Evidence presented in court indicates that on 25 September 2018, Swanepoel who was a security officer, reported on duty then left his post without reporting and went to his ex-girlfriend’s home at Lonely Park Village, near Mahikeng.
North West NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame said an argument ensued between the two and Swanepoel shot his girlfriend whilst she was screaming for her mom to help. “The mother emerged from inside the house to investigate and accused her. Both Motlalepula Motsatsing and her mother, Sesenyi Motsatsing, were declared dead on the scene. The brother of the deceased was in his shack when the shooting happened, and he went outside to investigate”.
Swanepoel then fired shots at him, but he survived the ordeal and died a year later after the shooting incident. On his way out of the yard, Swanepoel was approached by his two-year-old child, and he shot her, but she was rushed for medical attention and survived the ordeal.
Mamothame added that Swanepoel was later arrested in Setlagole village and denied bail. “It emerged in court that Swanepoel and Motsatsing’s relationship was characterised by fights and abuse, such that a protection order was granted against him”.
Judge Ronald Hendricks found him guilty on all four counts and he will remain in police custody until the day of sentencing.
