The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, confirms that the suspected mastermind, Mojalefa Letele, will stand trial from 3 to 14 August. Letele is alleged to have planned the murder of Stuurman in 2019 with the killer and convict, Jongikhaya Samsam, at the Goedemoed Prison in the Free State. 

In 2019, in an affidavit, Samsam told Judge President Cagney Musi that Letele offered him R100 000 and a pair of sneakers if he succeeds to take out Stuurman. Samsam later on brutally killed Stuurman, took her body hostage and also raped her then-pregnant colleague.

The case against Letele, who is out on R10 000 bail, was transferred to the Bloemfontein High Court in February after making a few appearances at the Rouxville Magistrate’s Court following his arrest on Thursday 6 February 2020 on a charge of murder.

Letele's arrest follows a joint investigation by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Department of Correctional Services (DSC).

The killer Samsam was sentenced by the Bloemfontein High Court on 31 October 2019 to two life terms for the murder, rape and kidnapping of the two Correctional Service Officials.

During Samsam’s trial, a visibly irritated and upset Judge Musi questioned the effectiveness of the offender’s rehabilitation programme by the department and questioned why Samsam, who was in jail for serious crimes, was even allowed to clean Stuurman's office.

Musi questioned whether the department was poking the right holes in its effort to try and rehabilitate offenders with hopes of being integrated back into society.

This as the DCS official, Jimmy Lenong, gave a heartfelt testimony on the devastating impact this incident had on the entire community of the Correctional Facility Centre, in particular female warders. Musi asked why Samsam, who was already serving two life terms and previously had been charged with Grievous Bodily Harm (GBV) in 2016 and 2017, was let to work in that particular area at the time of the incident. Judge Musi subsequently sentenced Samsam to two life terms in prison for murder, rape and five years for kidnapping.

He said the department, in essence, puts the lives of the women in danger by not acting swiftly after the two assault cases against Samsam. The Judge President told Lenong that the department should have realised that the accused was not a desirable person or candidate to be chosen as a cleaner for those offices where he killed Stuurman and raped her colleague.

 OFM News