Former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member Thabo Lawrence Monyane has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, 34-year-old Eniphe Sebolaishi Leso, in Limpopo.
Monyane, 42, appeared before the Polokwane High Court, where he pleaded guilty to the murder charge. Following the guilty plea and the evidence presented before the court, he was sentenced to 18 years’ direct imprisonment.
The court also declared Monyane unfit to possess a firearm, preventing him from legally owning or possessing a firearm in the future.
The murder took place in December 2025 at Ga-Malepetleke Village in Limpopo. Leso, who was 34 years old, was killed in circumstances that led to a police investigation and the eventual arrest of Monyane.
The case has highlighted once again the devastating consequences of violence against women, particularly when such violence occurs within intimate relationships. Leso’s death left her family and community grieving while police worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
Following the murder, police launched an investigation that ultimately resulted in Monyane being arrested and brought before the court. Investigators gathered the necessary evidence to build a case against the former SANDF member, which eventually resulted in his conviction.
Monyane’s decision to plead guilty meant that the matter proceeded in court without a lengthy trial over the murder charge. The Polokwane High Court subsequently handed down the 18-year prison sentence.
The court’s decision to declare him unfit to possess a firearm was also significant, given the seriousness of the offence and the potential risks associated with firearm possession.
The sentence means Monyane will spend 18 years in direct imprisonment for the killing of Leso. His conviction brings a legal conclusion to the case, although the loss of Leso remains a painful reality for those who knew and loved her.
Cases involving women allegedly killed by current or former partners continue to raise concern across South Africa. Authorities and community organisations have repeatedly called for stronger action against gender-based violence and greater protection for women who may be at risk.
For Leso’s loved ones, Monyane’s conviction and lengthy prison sentence may provide some measure of justice following her death.
The case also serves as a reminder that violence within relationships can have devastating and irreversible consequences. Law enforcement agencies continue to encourage victims and people who witness abuse to seek help and report incidents before situations escalate.
Monyane will now serve his 18-year sentence behind bars after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend in Ga-Malepetleke Village in December 2025.
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