Dimakatso Folotsi who was forced to go through a blood transfusion of two litres after the knife attack, says the 7-year jail term of her ex-husband, Mackenzie Ratselane, is disappointing.

She says she had expected a heavy sentence due to the nature of the crime. She says it’s not what one would have expected but she is, however, happy that a two-year case has come to an end. Folotsi says the case was a nightmare to deal with.

"Justice has been served, it has brought a sense of relief to myself and since the beginning of this thing, it has been a nightmare to me, the community and the family, and each and every person who is close to me. Despite the fact that it is something that was done by the person who was supposed to have protected me but at the end of the day he did what he did to me," Folotsi says.

On Wednesday,19 April 2023 Magistrate, Spiwo Mazwi, sentenced Ratselane to an effective 7-year jail term and declared him unfit to own a firearm.

The former police officer has been in jail since he was arrested whilst on the run from the police in 2021. Folotsi suffered 15 stab wounds to her chest, face, and tongue.

Ratselane stabbed Folotsi in February 2021 in Bloemfontein, where she was later found at the Caleb Motshabi informal settlement, lying in a pool of blood. Ratselane and Folotsi allegedly quarreled on their way to fetch their children in Phase 2.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, says they welcome the sentencing of Ratselane although they would have hoped for a much heavier sentence.

"We were expecting the court to impose a harsher punishment on Ratselane but we accept the decision of the court to impose an effective term of seven years. We hope that it would give solace to the family and complaint because the matter has been on the roll for more than two years. Gender-based violence is one of the priority crimes in the NPA," Phaladi adds.

Ratselane had argued for a suspended sentence but Mazwi rejected his plea. He gave Ratselane nine years for GBV, three years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, and two years for ammunition. He however suspended the two years of ammunition and reduced the sentence to seven years.

Mazwi said Ratselane was found guilty on serious charges which amongst others included the GVB described as a pandemic by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mazwi said he conquered the state argument during aggravating factors that Ratselane was not sorry but only regretted the fact that he was caught.

He said the imposed on Ratselane should meet the said crime against his ex-wife. The state had appealed to Mazwi to hand Ratselane a 12-year imprisonment sentence.

Meanwhile, a confident Ratselane seemed not deterred by the sentencing. Through his legal representative, Advocate Themba Diba, he indicated to the magistrate that he would be appealing the sentencing.

 OFM News