34-year-old Man in court for shooting lover to death

Two men have appeared in court on different cases that are linked.

In the first case, a 34-year-old man who allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend inside a car at a parking lot last week appeared on a murder charge in the Polokwane magistrate’s court.

He is facing an additional charge of possession of an unlawful firearm and ammunition.

In another courtroom, the owner of the firearm which was used in the killing, Stephen Mathebula, appeared on a charge of negligence of a firearm.

Kibi Lebogo briefly appeared for the first time to face murder and possession on an unlawful firearm and ammunition charges. He allegedly killed his girlfriend Tshepo Rakoma, 32, from Seshego outside Polokwane.

Lebogo was arrested for killing Rakoma, the mother of his three children, in the parking area of Shoprite supermarket at the corner of Grobler and Landdros Mare streets.

Provincial National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the state alleged that the firearm used in the incident belonged to Mathebula.

“The state is investigating how Lebogo obtained the firearm and subsequently killed Rakoma. The owner of the firearm [Mathebula] didn’t report the loss or theft to the police,” she said.

Rakoma’s sister Tebogo, who was in court, asked the media to give the family space to mourn.

Malabi-Dzhangi said investigations would reveal how Lebogo obtained the firearm.

Provincial police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said Mathebula was arrested immediately after the shooting.

Mojapelo said investigations revealed that Rakoma was with an identified man inside a vehicle when her boyfriend arrived.

He said an argument ensued and the boyfriend allegedly took out a firearm and shot her several times.

The man who is reported to have been with the deceased fled and his identity is still subject to an investigation.

Magistrate Janine Ungerer postponed Lebogo’s case to May 18 for him to find an attorney and possible bail application.

Meanwhile, Mathebula’s matter was postponed to July 13 for further investigations.