Overview
- The Polokwane High Court imposed 20 years for murder and 13 years for robbery, ordered to run concurrently, and ruled him unfit to possess a firearm.
- Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane, 36, pleaded guilty and told the court he should have disengaged and reported the plot to police.
- Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape was shot dead on 28 December 2023 at her home in Mankweng Zone 1 outside Polokwane.
- The court labeled Mogotlane the instigator whose claims set the fatal events in motion and said the sentence should deter would-be offenders.
- Co-accused Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto, Mahlodi Melida Mathole and Michael Sello Molongoane will face a separated trial set for 2–13 November 2026 on conspiracy, murder, robbery and firearms charges.