POLOKWANE - The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the sentences that were handed down by the High Court in Polokwane yesterday, Wednesday 29 June 2022 against the accused sentenced to direct imprisonment for killing Thoriso Themane in Polokwane in February 2019 and an educator, Precious Magabane in Burgersfort in December 2018.

The accused named, Ashan Fraz Cheema aged 28 at the time of his arrest, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Precious Magabane in December of 2018. At the time of her murder, the deceased was an educator at one of the schools at Mashamothane village outside Burgersfort. Cheema’s co-accused was later turned into a state witness.

The four teenagers who were convicted of killing Thoriso Themane were given a sentence of 10 years imprisonment each and the two adults convicted of assaulting Thoriso with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, were each sentenced to R20 000.00 fine or five years imprisonment.

“The two cases were broadly reported through various platforms of the media which have caused even more grief to the respective families. These sentences should therefore bring some solace and closure to the two families”, said Lieutenant General Hadebe.

Lieutenant General Hadebe concluded by thanking the investigators who spent sleepless nights probing the two murders and their efforts had ensured that the accused were given sentences befitting their horrendous deeds.

Source: South African Police Service