Kuruman duo sentenced for savage attack that claimed a young life

SOME measure of justice has been served in the case of a young man whose life was cut short by a vicious attack in Kuruman. The Kuruman Magistrate’s Court has convicted two men for the 2020 murder of 22-year-old Onkgopotse Reginald Sempe, bringing an end to a harrowing chapter for his family and the community.

According to Northern Cape police spokesperson Captain Nomvuyo Makoloi, the tragic events unfolded on November 27, 2020, in Pepsi Village, where Sempe was viciously attacked. His assailants, Thebeetsile Ronaldino Morakeng and Gosego Charles Mogabeng, both 22 at the time, relentlessly kicked him and struck him with a stone, leaving him gravely injured.

It was only two days later that his parents were alerted to the assault, and Sempe was taken to hospital on November 29. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries, marking a heartbreaking end to a young life.

This week, the court found both men guilty of murder and sentenced them to eight years behind bars, with two years of their sentences suspended under specific conditions. The ruling was welcomed by authorities, who commended the meticulous investigative work that led to the conviction.

The acting John Taolo Gaetsewe district commissioner, Brigadier Kenneth Baloyi, expressed appreciation for Detective Sergeant Modise Vincent Ventfolo, whose dedication ensured that a conviction was secured.