There were audible gasps in South Gauteng High Court on Thursday as acting judge Peet Johnson described Mantsoe as the devil in disguise.

Mantsoe was sentenced to 30 years for the murder, five years for assault and four years for defeating the ends of justice. Two of the five years for assault, as well as three of the four years for obstruction of justice, will run concurrently. This equalled to a sentence of 32 years. 

He said the sentence should serve as a warning to others that abuse against women will not be tolerated.

During sentencing proceedings earlier in the morning, Mantsoe said: "I am very remorseful. I knew a lot of things about her that she was trying to escape from. Both me and her were very secretive. I feel like I had failed her. I felt like the good that we have worked on... I disappointed her. It hurt me because I inspired her a lot."

On Wednesday, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg also found Mantsoe guilty of defeating the ends of justice and of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Mokoena's charred remains were found by a passer-by in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg, in April 2017.

News24