Court postpones sentencing of Tshegofatso Pule's killer

Ntuthuko Shoba appeared in court on Tuesday morning for arguments on aggravation of punishment and mitigation.

But the accused's legal team asked for a postponement to finalise the pre-sentencing report.

Shoba was convicted of Tshegofatso Pule's murder after he hired hitman Mzikayise Malepane.

Pule was eight months pregnant at the time of the murder in 2020.

He was found guilty in March.

Speaking to the media shortly after proceedings, Pule's Uncle Tumisang Katake said the postponement would only serve to delay the family's healing and closure.

"From my understanding is that the state was ready to proceed today, but when we arrived in court, the accused person is not ready to proceed, pre-sentencing reports are outstanding. 

"In as much as we would have loved for the matter to proceed, the justice system that is not how it works. We just have to give him a chance for him to conduct his thorough sentencing interviews, and for the report to be compiled, and hopefully on the 28th of July we hit the ground running.

"The sentencing proceedings have to be concluded so that the family can begin with closure."

He said the family wants Shoba to spend the rest of his life behind bars. 

"Anything less than a life sentence would be an injustice to the family and from where I am standing, I don't see the court granting anything different."

Meanwhile, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the state didn't oppose the request in the interest of justice.

"This is the first request for postponement after the conviction stage. So, we don't think that it was unreasonable for them to ask for another opportunity to go and prepare their report, hence we said in the interest of justice, and to ensure fairness in the manner in which the trial is conducted. We then decided not to oppose their request for postponement. But as the judge has indicated, he will not accept any further delays."

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