Mohapi murder accused guilty

GEORGE NEWS - All three accused in the Mohapi murder trial were found guilty of the premeditated murder of the 25-year-old Hlompho Mohapi (Koloi) in the George Circuit High Court this afternoon, Thursday 2 September.

Besides the murder conviction, they have been found guilty of a number of other charges, including kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and defeating or obstructing justice.

The three are pastor Melisiswe Monqo (33), his wife Siphoshile Pamba (26) and Monqo's cousin, Phumlani Quesheka (31).

Monqo and Pamba have also been found guilty on a number of fraud charges.

Mohapi had seven stab wounds to her chest and her throat was slit during what appears to be nothing more than a money-driven murder. Her butchered body was found by a passing fisherman next to the gravel road leading to Voëlklip on 5 July 2018, while her mother was attending a funeral in Lesotho.

Fraudulent life and funeral policies to the value of R3-million were taken out on Mohapi's life shortly before she was murdered. The trio allegedly also attempted to kill three other women using a similar modus operandi in the Eastern Cape between 2017 and 2018.

She had been lured to a fake job interview, after which she was taken to Herold's Bay where she was viciously murdered and her body left to be found.

After judgement was completed this afternoon the three accused, who have all been in custody since shortly after the incident, are now awaiting their sentences by Honourable Judge Taswell Papier.

"I am happy they have been found guilty," said Mohapi's mother, Patricia Koloi, shortly after judgement. "I wish I could take the key and throw it into the ocean. Nothing will bring my daughter back, but now I can try to move on."

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