Onthatile Sebati, along with her cousins Tumelo and Kagiso Mokone, were sentenced for their involvement in the brutal murders of Sebati’s parents, pregnant sister, and young brother. The Pretoria high court handed Sebati a 25-year sentence, while her cousins received life imprisonment.
The sentencing followed intense mitigation and aggravating arguments presented by both the defense and the state. Sebati, who was only 15 at the time of the crime, orchestrated the murders in December 2016 at their home in Mmakau near Brits, North West.
Sebati reportedly paid her cousins R100,000 from insurance payouts she received after the murders. The heinous nature of the crime shocked the community and led to a lengthy legal process that culminated in the recent sentencing.
This case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact that such violent acts can have on families and communities. Justice has been served, but the scars left by this tragedy will not easily fade.