In a heart-wrenching case, the High Court in Pretoria has sentenced 29-year-old mother Lehlogonolo Mary Bokaba to 20 years of direct imprisonment.
Bokaba was convicted on two counts of murder for the brutal killing of her two young daughters: a two-month-old infant and an eight-year-old girl. The court ordered that the two 10-year sentences run concurrently.
Bokaba’s tragic story unfolded against a backdrop of emotional turmoil. She was in a love relationship with the father of her two-month-old baby, residing in his parents’ backyard.
However, as their relationship deteriorated, Bokaba discovered her husband’s infidelity and his lack of assistance with childcare. Feeling overwhelmed, she decided to leave her husband in May 2022 and called her mother for help.
On a fateful morning, Bokaba’s emotional distress reached a breaking point. Desperate to spare her children from growing up without a mother, she hanged her two daughters with a cord, attempting to take her own life afterwards.
When her suicide attempt failed, she untied the children and placed them on the bed. Bokaba’s mother-in-law discovered the gruesome scene after receiving a missed call from her.
During the sentencing proceedings, advocate Piet Luyt emphasised the gravity of Bokaba’s actions, which resulted in the loss of two innocent lives and severe emotional trauma for their families.
Despite this, Judge Mashudu Munzhelele considered substantial and compelling circumstances. Bokaba had pleaded guilty and was a first-time offender. The court recognized that she committed the crimes while under emotional distress, leading to a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years.
In addition to the sentence, the court made a plea for widespread information dissemination. The aim is to support women who feel trapped and without a way out. By sharing stories like Bokaba’s, we hope to raise awareness and provide resources for those facing similar struggles.
