Two suspects accused of the kidnapping and murder of an eight-year-old were handed down four life sentences.
Bokamoso Shabe (8) was coming home from the Mmantshebo Primary School when she was lured by Lerato Mirriam Khitsane (46) who pretended to be a friend of Bokamoso’s mother who was a clothing vendor. Khitsane was travelling in a white Volkswagen Jetta sedan. On 21 June 2021 a case of kidnapping was registered after Bokamoso did not return home.
Bokamoso’s family was then contacted by people claiming to be Nigerians, asking for a ransom of R50 000 before they release Bokamoso. They told the family during negotiations that if the ransom was not paid, the child would be raped and murdered.
The negotiations continued until 24 June 2021. The ransom was brought down to R3 000 but the family was unable to pay and negotiations broke down.
After investigations, the first suspect, Stompi Motsika Rapuleng (48), was arrested on 24 June 2021 which led to the discovery of Bokamoso’s lifeless body wrapped in a blue blanket the same day.
Her body was dumped near the road in an open field between Riebeeckstad and Thabong.
Charges of murder, rape, and extortion were added and the case was assigned to WO Bertus Olivier of the Thabong Serious and Violent Crime unit, who engaged Crime Intelligence to assist with the investigation.
The second suspect, Khitsane, was arrested. The case was handled by the Welkom and Bloemfontein High Courts.
The two accused were found guilty as charged and sentenced on 3 November as follows:
Rapuleng was sentenced at the Welkom High Court on 6 May 2022. He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for kidnapping, five years for extortion, life imprisonment for rape, and another life sentence for murder. He was out on parole for a previous murder charge in Clarens.
Khitsane was sentenced by the Bloemfontein High Court. She was handed down 15 years for kidnapping, five years for extortion, life imprisonment for rape, and another life sentence for murder.
The High Court ordered that Rapuleng and Khitsane be added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders (NRSO) and both be deemed unfit to work with children for life.
Olivier, Crime Intelligence and other specialised units like the Welkom K9 unit, Welkom Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), Welkom Public Order Policing (POP), Welkom Flying Squad and hostage negotiators were applauded for a joint effort which resulted in these heavy sentences.
