Daughter of Senior Education Official Sentenced to Life for Father’s Murder in Polokwane
In a shocking case of family betrayal, Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Polokwane High Court after admitting to orchestrating the brutal murder of her father, Dr. Malekutu Johannes Mehlape, a senior official in the Limpopo Department of Education.
Dr. Mehlape, 55, was gunned down in his home in Mankweng on the evening of 28 December 2023. His daughter, influenced by accusations from a traditional healer that her father had used “muthi” to cause the death of her mother, conspired to have him killed. The court found that Mehlape’s actions were driven by personal grievances and a misguided belief in supernatural forces.
Cold-Blooded Conspiracy: A Detailed Confession
In her confession, Mologadi Mehlape, 28, admitted to hiring a contract killer for R200,000 to carry out the murder. She enlisted the help of several relatives, playing a key role in facilitating the crime. On the night of the murder, she unlocked the gates and doors to her father’s home, allowing the assailants to enter undetected.
Dr. Mehlape was ambushed in his bedroom, shot multiple times, and robbed of valuables, including his cellphone. The murder was carried out with shocking precision, and the robbers left no trace of remorse or hesitation. Mehlape was convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances under the Criminal Procedure Act.
Life Sentence and Further Legal Proceedings
For her role in the murder, Mologadi Mehlape received a life sentence for murder, alongside a 15-year sentence for robbery, which will run concurrently. The court ruled that her actions were not only gruesome but heartless, given her close relationship with the victim and the profound trust that was violated.
While Mehlape expressed remorse during sentencing, citing her role as a mother and the longstanding conflict with her father, the State dismissed her apology as insincere. Prosecutors pointed to the premeditated nature of the crime, emphasizing that such an act of betrayal could not be excused, regardless of personal grievances.
Co-Accused to Face Separate Trial
Four co-accused, including Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto, Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane, Mahlodi Melida Mathole, and Michael Sello Molongoane, will face trial separately in June 2025. They are accused of assisting Mehlape in the murder and robbery.
The case has left the community shaken, with many struggling to understand how a daughter could orchestrate the brutal killing of her father. It stands as a tragic reminder of the deep divides that can exist within families, and the devastating consequences of revenge and betrayal.
