The former captain Steve “Chippa” Molatedi was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Bafokeng Regional Court in Tlhabane, North West, on Tuesday, 18 April 2023.

He was found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances and kidnapping in September 2022. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in the province, Henry Mamothame, says the conviction emanates from an incident in which Molatedi and his accomplice robbed a foreign national-owned business on Monday 12 March 2018.

Mamothame explains that the evidence indicated that Molatedi held a shop owner at gunpoint and robbed him of cash and other valuables. The incident took place near a well-known hotel between Phokeng and the Ledig village outside Rustenburg where the victim was left in a locked chalet.

“Molatedi, then aged 56, was arrested 17 days later. He has been in custody since his detention after all his bail attempts were denied, while his accomplice was found not guilty and discharged. The convict was sentenced as follows; Count 1 for Robbery Aggravating - 12 years direct imprisonment; Count 2 for Kidnapping and pleading not guilty; Count 3 for pleading not guilty for Robbery Aggravating; and Count 4 for Kidnapping.

“Molatedi, then aged 56, was arrested 17 days later. He has been in custody since his detention after all his bail attempts were denied, while his accomplice was found not guilty and discharged. Molatedi was sentenced as follows; Count 1 for Robbery, Aggravating (12 years direct imprisonment), Count 2 for Kidnapping and pleading not guilty, Count 3 for pleading not guilty for Aggravating Robbery, and Count 4 for Kidnapping.

Three years imprisonment will run concurrently with the sentence on count 1. The accused was further declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000),” he said.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, said that criminality will not be tolerated within the ranks of the South African Police Service, and thanked the Investigating Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Murunwa, and the Prosecutor, Zola Mpayipheli, and other roleplayers for securing the sentence which he said will send a clear message that crime does not pay.

While the Director for Public Prosecution, Advocate Rachel Makhari-Sekhaolelo, stated that the sentence indicates that collaborations of entities in line with the resolution of the conference held in August 2022 are bearing fruits and that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that offenders are convicted.
 
OFM News