Judge Martha Mbele, who presided over the matter, will deliver her sentencing after all parties, including the defence team and state prosecutor Mvuseni Ponye, delivered their closing arguments yesterday. The seven, including six men and one woman, were arrested in March 2017 and were all found guilty last month for illegally rectifying passports that had already lapsed in exchange for money at the border between Ficksburg and Lesotho. While recommending a lighter sentence for his clients, Andries Nkome pleaded with Judge Mbele to at least consider a five-year suspended sentence to be imposed on his clients. Meanwhile, Advocate Lerata Mashee asked Mbele to rather give a sentence that would run concurrently while Rene Bester told Mbele that her client accepted responsibility and would accept any judgment imposed on her.

The police officers who have been found guilty on all charges are Philemon Moloi (32), Malefetsane Amos Khala(33), Lapapa Gerth This (37), Dumisani Jeffery Matoboka (35), Shale Vincent Mokhitli (37), Modise Abel Malefane (37), and Manthoto Edith Qasha (35). Legal Counsel Nkome represented accused number 1 Moloi, 2 Khala, 3 Thithi, 4 Mokhitli and 6 Malefane. Advocate Mashee represented accused number 4 Matobako while legal counsel Bester represented the only female accused in the matter Qasha. The state on Monday 25 November called its witness from Home Affairs’ immigration division on borders to give testimony on the importance of police officers ensuring that there is compliance around borders. The state witness told Mbele that it’s the responsibility of the police to hand over anyone to the immigration officers to check if they meet all requirements of being in the country.

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