Three men who murdered a 71-year-old Upington retired businesswoman and left her lifeless body, with hands bound in the pool of her secure complex home, will be sentenced next month in the Northern Cape. 

The trio – Tumelo Mavlenter Sotho (Accused 1), Martatjie Engelbrecht (Accused 2), and Nkosinathi Ntombela (Accused 3) – will be sentenced after they were found guilty on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, and defeating the ends of justice.

Sotho is said to have been the mastermind of the robbery with aggravating circumstances after he worked in the housing complex, gained the trust of Judith Redelinghuys over time, and carried out the heinous crime with his accomplices.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said the three accused were sentenced in the High Court of South Africa, Northern Cape Division, sitting as a circuit court in Upington.

“The incident occurred during the Covid-19 hard lockdown in June 2020 at her residence in a secure housing complex in Upington. After a thorough and complex trial, Sotho and Ntombela were found guilty of both robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder. Engelbrecht was convicted as an accessory after the fact to both crimes but acquitted on the charge of defeating the ends of justice. 

“Redelinghuys was discovered murdered in her home on 30 June 2020. Her body was found in her swimming pool, with her hands bound behind her back. Several pieces of her uniquely designed jewellery were reported missing,” said Senokoatsane.

A breakthrough in the case came when Ntombela sold one of the stolen rings. At the time, Engelbrecht misled police by claiming the ring was hers, providing an affidavit to that effect, which initially led to Ntombela’s release. 

“However, further investigation revealed that the ring had been custom-made for the deceased in Cape Town, leading to Ntombela’s re-arrest and later, Engelbrecht’s arrest. Evidence also revealed that Sotho, who worked in the same complex, had gained the trust of the victim over time, facilitating the planning and execution of the robbery…The NPA reiterates that the sanctity of human life is paramount, and it remains committed to pursuing justice vigorously to deter violent crimes, especially against the vulnerable,” said Senokoatsane.

The State, represented by Advocate Jaques Rosenberg and Advocate Terché Engelbrecht, presented compelling evidence, which included witness testimonies and cellphone tracking data that placed the accused at the scene.

The prosecution successfully opposed bail, and all three accused remained in custody throughout the trial.

Sentencing proceedings have been set down for hearing in the Upington circuit high court on 3–5 September. 

 chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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