Young woman sentenced to 25 years for killing all members of her family | Social

A Pretoria High Court judge has described a daughter’s involvement in the murders of her parents, pregnant sister and brother as a deep betrayal.

Judge Mashudu Munzhelele sentenced 24-year-old Onthatile Sebati to 25 years in prison for his role in the 2016 k!llings, while his cousins ​​Tumelo and Kagiso Mokone were jailed for life.

The horrific incident saw the deaths of Onthatile’s father, policeman Solomon Lucky Sebati, his mother Mmatshepo, a nurse, his 19-year-old pregnant sister Tshegofatso and his three-year-old brother Quinton, all shot dead in his home in Mmakau. , North West. Onthatile was 15 at the time of the killings, while his cousins ​​were 18.

Judge Munzhelele noted the emotional devastation caused by the crime, particularly the involvement of a family member. “The killing of four individuals, including parents and children, is a heinous act of violence, and the fact that accused number two (Onthatile), a family member, was complicit in the killing of her family heightens the emotional devastation and the gravity of the crime,” said the judge.

According to the state, Onthatile planned the killings and enlisted his cousins ​​to carry out the crime, even providing them access to the house and his father’s service firearm. Kagiso shot the family while Tumelo waited in the getaway vehicle. After the murder, Onthatile paid his cousins ​​R100 000 from the insurance payments.

In a shocking turn of events, five years after the crime, Onthatile confessed to family members, leading to his arrest. They were charged with robbery, four counts of murder, aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm and ammunition, and pleaded guilty earlier this year.

The court heard that Onthatile’s betrayal has left deep emotional scars on the Sebati family, with relatives struggling with mental health issues stemming from the tragedy. The judge declared the trio unfit to own firearms and gave them two weeks to appeal his rulings.

Onthatile’s aunt, Japhitaline Sebati, hailed the sentence as “justice done”, adding: “It is painful to see such an intelligent child waste his future, but I hope he is rehabilitated.”