Sentencing is expected to be handed down to three suspects in the brutal murder of a queer activist in the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court on Thursday (25/7).

Arthur Khoza (19), Mahlatsi Nkuna (21), and Thato Mosetla (22) face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder, malicious property damage, and defeating the ends of justice.

The trio was found guilty by Judge Frances Reid when they made an appearance at the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court on Tuesday, 26 March. The state, through Adv. Nangamso Goloda, closed its case after leading evidence through five witnesses, who testified on incidents leading to Mbatha’s death.

Friends and family outside the court in March. Photo: The Ga-Rankuwa Mail

“The Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court is expected to hand down the sentence to three suspects that were linked to the gruesome murder of Sam Mbatha, the three suspects were found guilty on various charges in March,” said North West NPA communication officer Sive Gunya.

“Mosetla was denied bail on 7 July 2022, after he initially abandoned it following his arrest. Meanwhile, Khoza and Nkuna are out on R500 bail each,” he said.

Sam Mbatha’s charred body was found on 10 January 2021 in a burnt-out vehicle near a football pitch in Ikageng, Potchefstroom. The judgment and sentencing come four years after his death.

Sam Mbatha's charred body was found in the car. Photo: kormorant.co.za

The men were arrested following an intensive investigation by the police, linking them to the murder of Mbatha on Monday, 21 June 2021.

Police investigations led them to a house in the Phutha section near Klipgat on that fateful Monday, where they found bloodstains on the floor, under and on top of a bed, as well as on a carpet.

An axe suspected to have been used during the commission of this crime was found on top of the roof of the house. DNA samples positively identified Sam Mbatha as the deceased person, whose body was found inside a burnt Hyundai i20 vehicle, at a soccer field in Ikageng Section on Thursday, 17 June 2021.

Sam Mbatha was a NWU staff member based on the Mahikeng campus. Photo: Facebook/Sam Junior Mbatha Foundation

NWU’s deputy vice-chancellor, Robert Balfour, said the death of Sam came as a great shock to the institution and this is because he was well known, he was one of the student leaders before he became a member of staff. He was based on the Mahikeng campus.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg