Limpopo soldier, 53, sentenced to life for killing his wife

A 53-year-old soldier, Maesela Lucas Ledwaba , from the Polokwane Military Base, has been confined to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife in 2019. According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi On the night of October 15, 2019, the accused and his wife had an argument at their home and the accused shot his wife, Pheladi Beauty Ledwaba, while she was asleep in front of their four children, who were sleeping in the same room as their parents. According to the report  the deceased were covered by a blanket and were locked up in their room by the accused He then took two of their children with him to the police station to hand over his licensed firearm. The next morning, Malabi-Dzhangi said that the accused had cleaned the room and removed the cartridge.

Limpopo Soldier pledges “Not guilty”

During the trial at Polokwane high court , Ledwaba had pleaded not guilty to the offence, but the court found him guilty as charged. Said Malabi-Dzhangi. Ledwaba also had a maintenance court order issued against him in April 2022 for an amount of R2010.00, proving that he was not financially responsible for the children, who are currently in the care of their paternal aunt . Malabi said the murder was well planned and he went as far as sourcing a firearm other than the one he was issued a license for and using it. He was taken aback by the scene and removed the spent cartridges, then went to the police station and cried as a victim. Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the Limpopo Polokwane High Court sentenced Maesela Lucas Ledwaba to life imprisonment for murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a prohibited firearm and defeating the ends of justice.