The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the North West, Henry Mamothame, says Karabo Bahurutshe was handed a life imprisonment sentence for murder and another ten years for rape. The court declared that the sentences will run concurrently.  

On 1 December 2019, Bahurutshe was at a local tavern in the Ramosadi Village in Mahikeng, when his girlfriend, the deceased Gomolemo Legae, arrived with friends. The couple later left the tavern together. The evidence led in court revealed that along the way, Bahurutshe raped Legae and stabbed her multiple times. He then purchased petrol at a nearby petrol station, poured it over her and set her alight. He fled the scene but handed himself over to the police later after hearing from a relative that the police were searching for him.

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Mamothame says that Bahurutshe indicated through his attorneys that he was not well and the court instructed that he gets medical attention. Mamothame says he later appeared in court after he was declared fit to attend the trial by a doctor from Mafikeng Provincial Hospital.

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Mamothame adds on Thursday 7 October 2021, Bahurutshe’s attorney read his plea statement in which he pleaded guilty on charges of rape and murder.  He says the state and court accepted the plea and the judge found the accused guilty on both murder and rape charges. He adds that on Friday 8 October 2021, the accused was sentenced.

“The NPA in the North West welcomes the conviction and sentence by the North West High Court for Karabo Bahurutshe to serve life imprisonment for murdering Gomolemo Legae, and a further ten years for raping her. We fully agree with the judge that the country must be seen moving forward progressively in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. We believe this conviction will also send a strong message to those who may want to commit a similar offense,” says Mamothame.

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