The Limpopo Polokwane High Court in South Africa has sentenced 29-year-old Kgopotso Mmotse Koma, from Mamone Village in Jane Furse, to two life terms for the murder and assault of an eight-year-old girl.
The court ruled that the sentence for murder will run concurrently with the sentence for assault, meaning the effective punishment is life imprisonment.
According to a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Thursday, February 6, 2025, Koma pleaded not guilty during the trial, but the state presented multiple witnesses who testified against him.
The court heard that on June 8, 2019, the victim, Pompo Hope Seponye, was playing at home when Koma asked her to buy him cigarettes from a nearby tuckshop. After some time, he followed her and intercepted her on her way back, leading her to a house belonging to a friend.
Once inside, Koma assaulted and strangled the young girl. When she failed to return home, her worried parents and community members launched a search and later discovered her lifeless body lying on a bed, partially undressed.
Koma fled the scene but was apprehended by police a few days later.
During sentencing, state prosecutor Advocate Rendani Mulaudzi emphasized that Koma showed no remorse for his actions and had taken advantage of the child’s vulnerability. She further stated that his crime had deeply affected the victim’s family, forcing them to relocate to another province due to fear.
Advocate Mulaudzi argued that there were no substantial or compelling reasons for the court to impose a lesser sentence.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Adv. Ivy Thenga welcomed the verdict, calling on the public to take a stand against violence towards women and children. She also commended Advocate Mulaudzi and all those involved in securing justice for the young victim.
