A man who took part in a brutal funeral parlour attack in Malipsdrift, where victims were shot, assaulted and four women raped, will spend the next two decades behind bars. Ntsiri Justice Mashiane (34) has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison for his role in the violent robbery, police said on Wednesday 25 March.
The Lebowakgomo Regional Court found Mashiane guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and malicious damage to property. The court heard that on 4 September 2022, Mashiane and his accomplices stormed a funeral parlour in Malipsdrift in the Sekhukhune District and attacked employees.
During the incident, one man was shot, six others were severely assaulted, and four women were raped. The attackers robbed staff of their belongings, including cellphones and a safe containing an undisclosed amount of cash, before fleeing the scene. Mashiane was arrested in the first week of November 2022 by members of the Provincial Tracking Team and Provincial Investigation Unit in the Mankweng policing area.
He was granted R3,000 bail on 12 November 2022 due to illness. The case was later transferred to the Provincial Investigation Unit and assigned to Sergeant Leseka Mashamaite, who led the investigation that resulted in Mashiane’s conviction.
Mashiane was sentenced to 15 years for robbery and 15 years for attempted murder, with additional five-year sentences for assault and malicious damage to property. Some of the sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective 20-year prison term.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the conviction sends a strong message. “This case shows the brutality that communities are exposed to, but also demonstrates that police will work tirelessly to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice,” said Ledwaba.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said the sentence should bring some relief to the community. “The community of Malipsdrift and Sekhukhune District can now take comfort in knowing that justice has been served and the perpetrator will be behind bars for the next two decades,” she said.
Police said investigations into Mashiane’s accomplices are ongoing.
