Ivan Magokane, the convicted killer who shot and killed a City of Cape Town official during a fight with his ex-girlfriend, has been sentenced to 45 years imprisonment.
The Western Cape High Court ruled that Magokane showed no real remorse and handed down a life sentence for premeditated murder.
The shocking shooting took place at the Athlone Water and Waste Depot in March 2022. Magokane fired wildly at staff as he stalked his ex-girlfriend, Shirley Malema. The incident left City of Cape Town workers traumatized.
According to the indictment, Magokane and Malema started dating in 2014 and got engaged a year later. Malema ended the relationship in February last year due to Magokane’s abuse and moved to Cape Town for a new job.
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Magokane’s behaviour escalated, and he would often visit Malema, threatening her with violence. On March 28, 2022, Malema feared for her safety and called the police when she learned that Magokane was at her workplace.
Mpharu Hloyi, Malema’s colleague, tried to mediate between the couple, but Magokane shot her in the head. He also fired several shots at Malema and injured two other staffers who arrived at the scene.
Magokane was convicted on one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of assault on Malema. During sentencing, the judge described Hloyi as the “heart of her household” and emphasized the trauma and hurt experienced by her family.
The judge stated that Magokane showed no remorse for his actions and condemned his abuse of Malema. He described the killing as a brutal act of force against a defenceless woman who was only trying to mediate between the couple.
Magokane received a life sentence for the murder, 10 years imprisonment for each count of attempted murder, and six months imprisonment for assault. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective 25 years in prison.
While the family of Mpharu Hloyi expressed some satisfaction with the sentence, they acknowledged that it cannot bring her back. They described Hloyi as a spiritual woman, a gender-based violence activist, and a community leader.
