Bushbuckridge resident Witness Monareng, 28, has been sentenced to a total of 77 years in prison for his involvement in a violent crime spree, including the murder of a couple, housebreaking, and two counts of robbery under aggravating circumstances.

Monareng received an eight-year sentence for housebreaking, 15 years for each robbery charge, 15 years for one murder, and 24 years for the other, totaling a combined prison sentence aimed at addressing the severity of his offenses.

Monica Nyuswa, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga, reported that Monareng pleaded guilty to all charges. According to Nyuswa, on February 5, Monareng, along with unknown accomplices, broke into the home of Albert Mashego in Violet Bank Trust, demanding valuables. When Mashego explained that his bank card was with his girlfriend, Victoria Mmathapelo Lebjane, in Zoekenog Trust, Monareng coerced Mashego into arranging a meeting with her to retrieve it.

Upon arriving at Lebjane’s residence, Monareng forced Mashego to knock on her door. As Lebjane opened, expecting her partner, Monareng shot both her and Mashego fatally, then took the bank card from her pocket before fleeing.

Monareng’s arrest followed a police investigation that linked his fingerprints to evidence at the crime scene, solidifying the case against him. In court, state advocate Senzo Zindela argued that Monareng’s guilty plea stemmed not from genuine remorse but from the overwhelming evidence presented. Zindela highlighted the profound impact of the crimes on the victims’ families, while Judge Sheila Msibi, in delivering the sentence, emphasized the severe breach of the victims’ constitutional right to life.

Furthermore, the court ruled that Monareng is unfit to possess a firearm, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes. This judgment underscores the commitment of the judicial system to protect citizens and deliver justice for such violent acts.