GYANI – Malisela Goodwill Selepe (38), a popular businessman in the Giyani area, will spend the remaining part of his life in jail. He killed his wife Wisani Yvonne Selepe (33) in the morning of April 30, 2002 at about 06:00.

It was testified in the High Court in Tzaneen last week that, during the morning of the incident, Mrs Selepe was conveying some of the family business employees to their respective workstations. The incident took place along the road between Giyani and Maphata village.

The court heard that the accused and a certain man who later turned state witness were hiding somewhere in the bushes along the way. When Mrs Selepe arrived at the spot where the accused and his friend were hiding, they opened fire at her vehicle.

Mrs Selepe was in the company of her pregnant colleague when the incident took place. She and her colleague were teachers at one of the Giyani-based schools. Mrs Selepe was shot and killed on the spot while her colleague was severely wounded in the incident.

The search for the killers started after the incident. Selepe and his friend were arrested, following a tip-off by concerned members of the community. They were charged with murder and attempted murder. Selepe's friend turned state witness during the court proceedings.

The case was finalised in the Tzaneen High Court last Friday. Selepe was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. A further 14-year term of imprisonment was imposed on him for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.