STELLALANDER-SETLAGOLE: The Atamelang Regional Court has sentenced Jacob Molebo (31) to life imprisonment for the murder of his three-month-old baby, further declaring him unfit to possess a firearm.
The tragic incident occurred on 22 October 2020 in Setlagole village, North West. According to investigations, Molebo was in a relationship with the baby’s mother. On the day of the incident, he took the infant from the mother and, without provocation, hurled the baby against a concrete wall of a neighbor’s house. The child sustained severe injuries and was later pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby clinic.
Court testimony revealed that Molebo left the mother at the scene without offering assistance. The distraught mother sought help from neighbors, who rushed the baby to the clinic. Police launched a manhunt and apprehended Molebo three days later. Molebo pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. However, state prosecutor Advocate Edward Manicus urged the court to impose a life sentence, emphasizing the brutality of the crime and the lack of mitigating factors. Magistrate Stephan Du Toit condemned the act as an alarming example of violence against vulnerable members of society, particularly women and children. In his judgment, Du Toit ruled that no compelling circumstances justified a lesser sentence and sentenced Molebo to life imprisonment. Reacting to the sentencing, Dr. Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, commended the investigation and prosecution teams. “We remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring justice for victims of violent crimes. Offenders will face the full weight of the law,” she said.
