Man jailed for 15 years after unprovoked knife attack in Galeshewe tavern

AN ACCUSED, Liston Isaac Frans, was sentenced to serve 15 years behind bars after he was found guilty of the brutal and unprovoked stabbing of a man at a Galeshewe tavern.

The incident took place on July 21 2024, when the accused became aggressive towards a 30-year-old man. 

National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said that on the night of the attack, Frans suddenly attacked the complainant at the tavern, without any apparent reason. 

"The two men grew up in the same community and were familiar with each other. During the altercation, Frans pulled out an okapi knife and stabbed the complainant once in the stomach.  The complainant was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent an emergency operation that saved his life. He remained hospitalised for a month due to the seriousness of the wound. The medical report confirmed that the injury sustained was severe and life-threatening."

He added that a security officer who witnessed the attack and testified that he saw the accused striking the complainant and later removing the knife from Frans’s pocket.

"Despite this evidence, Frans pleaded not guilty and denied stabbing the victim."

Senokoatsane said that during sentencing, State Prosecutor Shareen Links argued that the accused showed no remorse for his actions.

"She further stated that he attacked a defenceless, unarmed victim without cause and nearly killed him without reason. She urged the court to impose a sentence that reflected the seriousness of the offence and reinforced the Constitutional principle that life was sacred and must be protected." 

He stated that the Victim Impact Statement, which was compiled with the assistance of court preparation officer Lindo Sikhakhane, detailed how the attack had traumatised the complainant as well as how he spent a month in hospital fighting for his life.

"The accused was sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment by the Galeshewe regional court on a charge of attempted murder." 

Senokoatsane believed that every person had the right to live in a peaceful and safe society. 

"Senseless acts of violence erode not only individual safety but also the social fabric of our communities. .

"The NPA reiterates that acts of violence, whether provoked or unprovoked, will not be tolerated. We will continue to pursue such cases with vigilance and determination to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. By securing firm convictions and advocating for sentences that reflect the seriousness of these crimes, the NPA aims to send a clear message: violence has no place in our communities, and those who endanger the lives of others will face the full consequences of the law," he stated.