Murder accused sheriff’s husband extradited to South Africa

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Remember the Mob

Lehlohonolo Makotoane, 42, is the husband of the late South African magistrate and acting judge Mamello Thamae,alreadyHe was extradited to South Africa under close escort by the Lesotho Mounted Police (LMPS).

He will face charges for allegedly murdering his wife in the Free StatephosphorusAt the end of last year.FormalExtradition took place at Maseru Bridgeyesterday.

Makotoane is accused of brutally beating his wife to death at their home in Heilbron on September 21. After the murder, he allegedly placed his wife’s body in the trunk of his car and drove to Mokhotlong, Lesotho, intending to dispose of her remains. It is believed that Makotoane suspected his wife of infidelity and that her alleged lover may have influenced her decision to file for divorce..Ms Makotoane and Ms Thamae are both from Lesotho.

Deputy police spokesperson, Inspector Mareabetsoe Mofoka, confirmed the extradition and said Makotoane had been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) to face murder charges in the neighbouring country.

“Makotoan had planned to dump his wife’s body in the hills of Mokhotlong to hide the evidence, but fortunately the police intervened in time,” said Officer Mofuka.

According to Officer Mofuka, Makotoan checked into a guesthouse in Mokhotlong with the intention of disposing of his wife’s body the next morning. However, he was arrested before he could carry out his plan. He was subsequently charged with murder and appeared before the Mokhotlong Magistrate’s Court, where he was detained awaiting extradition.

Inspector Mofoka further explained that although Makotoane entered Lesotho through the Caledonian Port border post, authorities chose to extradite him via the Maseru Bridge.postal.

After Makotoane’s arrest last year, then-acting police spokesman Senior Superintendent Kabelo HalahalaHe said the suspectDetained by Mokhotlong District CourtalthoughAwaiting extraditionprocess.

SSP Halahala revealed that Makotoane “admit”murderyesDuring interrogation. According to his confession, Makotoane killed his wife after a heated argument over a mobile phone, which escalated when he accused her of infidelity. After killing his wife, he allegedly hid her body in the trunk of his car and drove to Lesotho the next day, passing through the Caledonspoort border post and entering the Butha-Bute district.backHiding her body under a pile of bags.

Following the tragic death of Judge Thamae, the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ) strongly condemned gender-based violence. In a statement, SAC-IAWJ expressed shock and disbelief at the death of Judge Thamae, describing her as a dedicated and passionate legal professional who played an important role in upholding the rule of law in South Africa.

“South Africa remains one of the most violent countries in the world when it comes to the safety and protection of women and girls. We strongly reject this inhumane act and call on the South African Police Service to conduct a swift, thorough and transparent investigation into the untimely death of District Magistrate and Acting Judge Thamae,” the statement read.