The Mafeteng Magistrate Court has sentenced Monare Matlosa (27) of Ha Matsepe to six years imprisonment or pay a fine of M 6,000.00 for Armed Robbery and Unlawful Possession of Firearm. He was convicted of two counts of Armed Robbery and Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition where in the first count he was sentenced to three years imprisonment or pay a fine of M3,000.00 while in the second count was sentenced to three years imprisonment or pay a fine of M3,000.00.
According to the evidence led before court the convict on November 17, 2021 intentionally, wrongfully and unlawfully attacked Mamokete Lipholo (47) of Motse-Mocha Ha Matsepe where he entered her shop and pointed her with a
gun threatening the complainant to lie down.

It showed that he ordered the complainant to give him money and she gave him M100.00 which the convict said was not demanding enough and  the complainant gave him M500.00. It further stated that he took tinned fish, beef, Vodacom and Econet airtime vouchers including cigarettes and soft drinks then left the scene. It stated that he was found in possession of illegal 9mm and .38 special including four rounds of ammunition in both of them, while  their serial numbers rubbed off, adding that he was unable to produce legal documents allowing him to possess the weapons.

In mitigation he pleaded guilty as charged, asking the Court to give him a lenient punishment so that he will go back to the village and look for better ways of living as he is aware that crime does not pay. Delivering the judgement Magistrate Bokang Makhaketso informed the convict that the courts of law will remain voice of the voiceless through passing harsh sentences to those against the law.

He said theft has never been a sustainable solution to unemployment, hence the need for the convicts and all unemployed to change their minds and look for reasonable and healthy ways of living. It was prosecuted by Senior Crown Counsel Mabohlokoa Ntsinyi.