Convicted murderer Monoko Francis Thoko has been sentenced to 30 years in prison by the high court in Pretoria for the murder of Mapiti Matsena, a Gauteng Member of the Provincial Legislature and chairperson of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee.
On that fateful night, 15 July 2020, Matsena was at his Doornpoort home in Holy Hock Road when Thoko broke into his bedroom.
The intruder only found Matsena’s wife in the bedroom. She started screaming.
When Matsena, who was in another part of the house, came to the bedroom he was confronted by Thoko and a fight broke out.
Thoko stabbed Matsena multiple times. Matsena, who was a member of the African National Congress (ANC), died in the spot
Earlier in April Thoko pleaded guilty to the charges of murder and housebreaking.
The accused told the court that he and Matsena were from the same village, Ga-Marikana.
He said Matsena had employed him to take care of his disabled son. Thoko said he also did the gardening.
Thoko said he was fired from his job after a disagreement with Matsena’s sister.
On the day of the murder, Thoko claimed he had returned to collect his belongings from Matsena’s home.
Before sentencing, State Advocate Mari Marriot told the court Thoko planned the crimes. He even waited until 9 pm to break into the premises.
The ANC said it welcomed the sentence.