Conwell Mongezi Chauke, 34, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 11-year-old Khothatso Welhelmina Tshabalala in Mamelodi East, Pretoria. The chilling details of the crime unfolded on 29 December 2020O after the mother of Khothatso received a call while at work from Chauke, who was a member of her prayer group and her prayer partner.
The court heard how Chauke, who was a member of the same prayer group as the victim's mother, had been pursuing a romantic relationship with her, but she had rebuffed his advances. On the day of the murder, Chauke called the mother while she was at work, threatening her for refusing to meet with him the previous day.
"He called her and said she was taking him for a fool," said NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, recounting the chilling phone call. Chauke's anger towards the mother, fueled by her rejection, would have devastating consequences.
“Chauke then began to threaten the mother over the phone because she did not agree to meet with him the previous day and believed that she was taking him for a fool as he was interested in pursuing a love relationship with her,” said Mahanjana.
Later that same day, Chauke went to the victim's home, where he found Khothatso playing with her younger sister and a neighbour's child. Under the guise of collecting his belongings, he lured the young girl inside the house.
"When they got into her home, Chauke stabbed the child sixty-six times, covered her body with linen on top of her bed and fled the scene," Mahanjana said.
The horrific scene was discovered by neighbours who went to her home after being unable to find Khothatso, where they found her lifeless body on her bed.
After the brutal act, Chauke handed himself over to the police at Lyttleton Police Station and has been in custody ever since.
In court, Chauke denied kidnapping the child, pleading guilty only to the charge of murder. He claimed his anger towards the victim's mother was the driving force behind the horrific act.
Judge Jacobus Johannes Strijdom, in delivering the sentence, condemned Chauke's actions, stating that he had violated the deceased's constitutional right to life.
"Chauke was merciless when stabbing the child sixty-six times. This shows that he is a danger to society and that it is the court's responsibility to protect society from offenders like him," the judge said.
“During sentencing proceedings, his legal representative asked the court to consider the three years he spent in prison awaiting the finalisation of his trial when imposing the sentence. Though he has previous convictions of theft, he is a first-time offender of violent crimes” said Mahanjana.
“In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, advocate Sipho Lalane, argued that even though Chauke pleaded guilty to the charge of murder, he did not show remorse but is rather regretful of his actions.
“Furthermore, Lalane said Chauke was convicted of a serious crime that is prevalent in the county.
“He stabbed and killed a minor child who was defenceless, vulnerable, and could not protect herself because her mother did not agree to his pursuit of a love relationship.
“Lalani also handed in two victim impact statements [VIS], where the mother of the deceased expressed that since her child was killed, she is not psychologically well and that Chauke took away her best friend.
“In her VIS, the deceased sister mentioned that she is always lonely because she does not have anyone to play with, as the deceased was also a friend to her.
“She also added that her school performance has declined after losing her sister.”
