NOORDWESTER – KOSTER - The Koster Regional Court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 71-year-old farmer, Ephraim Diloro.
Wahasele Hazekiel Majoro (33) and Tumelo Martin Katali (41) were convicted of murder and theft. Each received life imprisonment for murder and 10 years for theft, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
The tragic events occurred on 4 April 2022, at the victim’s home in Koster. Investigations revealed that one of the accused had worked as a herd boy on the deceased’s farm.
On the night of the murder, the two accused visited the victim’s home, where they initially borrowed R200 from him. They then demanded more money, and when Diloro refused, they strangled him to death. After the murder, they stole his bakkie and attempted to flee to Lesotho.
At the Lesotho border post, police officers stopped the accused and, upon inspection, discovered the bakkie was likely stolen. Attempts to bribe the officers failed, and further investigations confirmed the vehicle belonged to the deceased. The accused were arrested and linked to the murder through further evidence.
During sentencing, State Prosecutor Sangweni Zimema argued against any deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence, citing the prevalence of farm murders in the district. Magistrate Segakweng Moeng, in his judgment, emphasised the court’s duty to protect vulnerable members of society. He noted that the two accused acted in common purpose, committing a heinous crime against an elderly man.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended the investigative and prosecutorial teams, stating “This sentence sends a strong message to would-be offenders that justice will prevail, and those who commit such crimes will face the full might of the law.”
