# Lephalale Court Imposes Dual Life Sentences in 2018 Murder-Rape Case
**LEPHALALE, 27 May 2026** – Two men have been handed life sentences by the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court for the 2018 murder of an elderly man, with one offender receiving an additional life term for rape.
Christmas Monyeki (41) and Today Mabula (43) were convicted on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, on the following counts:
* **Count One: Murder** – Both accused received life imprisonment.
* **Count Two: Rape** – Monyeki was handed a further life sentence.
The court directed that Monyeki’s sentences run concurrently. He has also been entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The case originated on 05 September 2018, when police responded to a reported homicide in Leswaneng Section, Shongoane One. Officers arrived to find the body of an 83-year-old man on a bed. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) confirmed the victim was deceased. A forensic pathology postmortem later established that the victim had been strangled.
Sergeant Manyaapela Molekoa of the Villa Nora Detectives Unit was assigned to lead the murder investigation. His efforts resulted in the identification, tracing, and arrest of both suspects on 06 September 2018.
After several court appearances, both men were granted bail set at R1,000 each. During his period on bail, Monyeki committed a separate rape offence against a 13-year-old girl in the same area in February 2019. He was subsequently re-arrested and remained in detention pending the conclusion of the proceedings.
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