Four men have been sentenced to double life imprisonment for the murders of two young men in a North West tavern, highlighting the court’s stance against violent crime. Picture Credit: X
By Aisha Zardad
Taung – A night out at a tavern in Taung, North West, ended in a brutal rampage that claimed the lives of two young men. On March 10, the Taung Regional Court handed down double life sentences to four men convicted of the killings.
The convicted, Tlotlego Ntlhaeng (26), Vincent Gaanabo (28), Gofaone Thari (24), and Oratile Modisamongwe (22), will serve their life sentences concurrently.
The court heard that the tragic events unfolded on March 17, 2024, when the four men went drinking at a local tavern with a friend who later became a state witness. The violence erupted inside the tavern after they encountered 22-year-old Tumelo Gaehose.
“They met Gaehose, attacked and stabbed him to death,” said Sivenathi Gunya, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The violence continued outside. After leaving the tavern, the men came across 20-year-old Kutlo Mogapi and his friends. What began as an attempted robbery quickly escalated into another deadly attack. Despite the state witness attempting to intervene, Mogapi was fatally stabbed and died en route to the hospital.
All four men were arrested the same day and denied bail during the legal proceedings. They pleaded not guilty, but prosecutors argued that the sheer brutality of the crimes warranted the harshest punishment.
The court described the murders as “senseless, gruesome and heartless,” and ruled that the four are unfit to possess firearms under the Firearms Control Act.
North West Director of Public Prosecutions, Rachel Makhari, praised the outcome, commending law enforcement and prosecutors for ensuring justice. “The NPA remains steadfast in ensuring accountability. Violent crimes will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will face the full might of the law,” Makhari said.
