ROOSSENEKAL MURDER AND ROBBERY ACCUSED SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS DIRECT IMPRISONMENT

POLOKWANE: The Polokwane High Court has sentenced 26-year-old Bobo Mokoena Mathibe on Monday, 11 May 2026, to an effective 19 years direct imprisonment for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances committed in Roossenekal during 2025.

The sentencing follows a brutal attack on an elderly man at Hartelus Farm on Thursday, 30 April 2025, at about 08:45.

The court heard that Police responded to a complaint of murder at the farm, where an elderly white male Robert Petrus Rodrick Stoltz was found severely assaulted inside his residence. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had been attacked with a steel rod while outside in the yard. After losing consciousness, he was dragged into the house and placed in the bathroom with his hands tied behind his back and a cloth stuffed into his mouth. The victim later succumbed to his injuries.

The suspects further ransacked the house and robbed the victim of cash amounting to R3 000 and a pellet gun before fleeing the scene in the victim’s blue Chery motor vehicle. The vehicle was later found involved in an accident near Burgersfort along the R555 road.

An intensive investigation involving the investigating officer, Community Service Centre members, Detectives, Rural Safety members, and informers led to the arrest of Bobo Mokoena Mathibe and another suspect a few weeks after the incident. The second accused was later released after investigations could not link him to the commission of the crime.

The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Millicent Mogomogane attached to Roossenekal Detectives.

The accused was sentenced as follows:

* Count 1: Murder — 19 years imprisonment

* Count 2: Robbery with aggravating circumstances — 10 years imprisonment

The court ordered the sentence on count two to run concurrently with the sentence on count one, resulting in an effective 19 years direct imprisonment.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the sentence and commended all members involved in the investigation for their dedication, commitment, and teamwork in ensuring that justice was served.

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