POLOKWANE — A school principal has been sentenced to prison after admitting involvement in the contract killing of a senior Limpopo education official in December 2023, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday.
Guilty plea, premeditated plot
The Limpopo High Court convicted and sentenced Mahlodi Melida Mathole (45) after she pleaded guilty in terms of Section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act to her part in the murder of Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape, a circuit manager at the Limpopo Department of Education, NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi said.
Mathole, who is Mehlape’s sister-in-law, admitted she acted in furtherance of a common purpose and that the killing had been planned. The court imposed a sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, of which eight years were suspended, resulting in an effective term of 17 years’ direct imprisonment for murder, Malabi said.
"It appeared as though taking a person’s life had become as easy as going to the shops and choosing who should be killed," Judge Gert Muller observed during sentencing, according to the NPA.
How the plot unfolded
Dr Mehlape was shot dead at his home in Mankweng Zone 1, outside Polokwane, on 28 December 2023. Mathole told the court she had been motivated by a belief among family members that Mehlape had poisoned her sister, who was the mother of the convicted co‑accused.
According to Malabi, Mathole consulted traditional healer Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane and requested "muti" to cause Mehlape’s death. Mogotlane was later convicted and, in February this year, sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for his role in the murder, the NPA statement said.
Mathole furthermore acknowledged transferring R600 to Mogotlane to cover diesel costs for the vehicle that transported the hired gunmen to Mehlape’s residence. The attackers shot Mehlape multiple times; he died at the scene from gunshot wounds to the head.
Other accused and ongoing matters
In June last year the court sentenced Mehlape’s daughter, Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape, to life imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to her father’s murder, the NPA said. Two other accused in the current matter, Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto (34) and Michael Sello Molongoane (42), appeared in court alongside Mathole; their matters are to proceed separately.
Malabi said Mathole admitted her actions directly contributed to the commission of the murder and that her plea and sentencing agreement was accepted by the court.
Local impact and wider concerns
The killing of a senior education official has unsettled the Mankweng and wider Polokwane communities, raising questions about safety for public servants and the influence of traditional healing practices when invoked to justify criminal schemes.
Community members and education colleagues have not been quoted in the NPA statement, but the conviction of multiple people in this matter signals a sustained police and prosecutorial effort to pursue those responsible. The sentencing also highlights how courts are using plea agreements under Section 105A to resolve complex cases in which several people are implicated.
- Victim: Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape, circuit manager, Limpopo Department of Education.
- Main convicted in this hearing: Mahlodi Melida Mathole — effective 17 years’ imprisonment.
- Other convictions: Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape — life imprisonment; Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane — 20 years’ imprisonment.
Sentence summary
| Accused | Role | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Mahlodi Melida Mathole | Admitted arranging role, financed transport | 25 years (8 suspended) — effective 17 years |
| Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape | Pleaded guilty to murder (earlier) | Life imprisonment |
| Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane | Traditional healer — provided "muti" and coordinated | 20 years imprisonment |
The NPA emphasised that the convictions and sentences reflect the seriousness with which the justice system treats contracted killings and the procurement of hit‑men. The court’s remarks, as cited by the NPA, conveyed judicial concern about a culture where organised violence can be procured as if it were a commodity.
Further proceedings for the remaining accused will determine whether additional convictions follow. Police records and the prosecutor’s office continue to provide updates to the community as the matters progress.
Reporting from Polokwane.
