The family of Aubrey Mfolo has welcomed the Pretoria high court’s decision to sentence his widow, Rebecca Mfolo, and her three co-accused to life imprisonment. Rebecca Mfolo, Lucky Kudumane, Bafana Mototsoe, and Sfiso Manana were sentenced on Friday for Mfolo’s murder, as well as conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, and robbery. The court found that the state had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Rebecca and Mototsoe, who was Mfolo’s employee, had acted in common purpose to hire Kudumane and Manana to kill Mfolo in January 2023.
Mfolo’s younger brother, Douglas, welcomed the sentence, saying it demonstrated that those responsible for the killing would be held accountable. “The sentence shows that there is still a rule of law in the country and that no one can kill a person and not be held accountable,” he said. Douglas added that the family was satisfied with the court’s decision, although they still had questions about the motive behind Mfolo’s murder.
During the trial, the court heard that Rebecca had confessed to hiring hitmen after years of alleged abuse by her husband. She claimed that she had suffered abuse for many years, was forced to sleep next door for her safety with her kids, and had lost her job due to her husband’s jealousy and possessiveness. Rebecca also testified that her husband had an affair with another woman from Bapong and impregnated her.
Rebecca told the court that she had reached a breaking point and approached Manana, who allegedly offered to find people to kill her husband. According to Kudumane’s confession, they were offered R15,000 to kill Mfolo, and the other R15,000 was expected to be paid to a sangoma for cleansing. The court heard that Mfolo was assaulted, restrained, and tied with shoelaces before his mouth was covered with tape.
Investigations revealed that Mfolo’s attackers took his vehicle keys, cellphones, and cash before removing him from the house. A case of house robbery and kidnapping was registered in Letlhabile. The investigation took a further turn after police received information about a body found in Letlhabile, which detectives linked to the earlier house robbery and kidnapping.
Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Arthur Peter Adams commended investigating officer Sgt Julius Nkgoeng for his dedication and commitment in bringing the investigation to a close. The sentence handed down by the court brings closure to the family, who had been seeking justice for Mfolo’s brutal murder.
The case highlights the issue of domestic violence and the extreme measures some people take to escape their abusive situations. Mfolo’s death has left a deep void in the family, with Douglas describing him as a man who cared deeply for his wife, children, and relatives. The family is still coming to terms with the loss, but the sentence provides some solace that justice has been served.
Key points
- The widow of slain taxi boss Aubrey Mfolo and her three co-accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder and related crimes.
- The court heard that Rebecca Mfolo had confessed to hiring hitmen after years of alleged abuse by her husband.
- The sentence was welcomed by Mfolo’s family, who had been seeking justice for his brutal murder.
