A South African man, Thabo Samuel Segale, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the gruesome murder of his 24-year-old girlfriend, Amogelang Princess Mpete, in a crime that shocked the community and left two young children deeply traumatised.
The Mogwase Regional Court in North West handed down the sentence on Thursday, July 31, 2025, declaring Segale unfit to ever possess a firearm.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the horrifying incident unfolded on the night of July 10, 2019, at the victim’s family home, where Segale had visited Mpete. The couple were seated in the dining room with Mpete’s seven-year-old child and her 12-year-old sibling when tensions escalated.
Mpete reportedly asked Segale to leave, saying it was late and the children needed rest. But what followed was a sudden explosion of violence. Consumed by jealousy and suspicions of infidelity, Segale stormed into another room, grabbed a pickaxe, and launched a brutal attack on Mpete—right in front of the terrified children.
She tried desperately to shield the children and escape, eventually climbing out through a window. But Segale chased her outside and struck a fatal blow to her head with the axe before fleeing the scene.
He was arrested the next day and denied bail. Segale later pleaded guilty to murder.
During the sentencing hearing, the court was presented with a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled with help from Court Preparation Officer Gift Tapa. It detailed the harrowing psychological toll the incident had on the young witnesses, who are still grappling with the trauma of watching their mother brutally killed.
State prosecutor, Advocate Sicelo Moselakgomo, described the killing as a cold-blooded, premeditated act of brutality that “shocks the conscience of any civilized society.” He urged the court to deliver a sentence that not only reflected public outrage but also affirmed the value of human life.
The presiding judge concurred, highlighting the disturbing rise in gender-based violence and the need for harsh penalties. The court imposed a life sentence on Segale and barred him from owning a firearm.
Dr. Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, praised the outcome, commending the South African Police Service and the prosecution team for their thorough work. She said the verdict sends a strong message that gender-based violence will not go unpunished.
“This judgment is a powerful reminder that justice can and will be served for victims of domestic violence,” Makhari stated.