Woman, 20, ‘killed by boyfriend’ on parole for murdering ex-girlfriend after being released for jail just a month before
A WOMAN was allegedly killed by her boyfriend – just a month after he was released from jail for murdering his ex-girlfriend. Kgaogelo Shai, from Tzaneen, South Africa, was last seen with boyfriend and suspect Ronny Kgatla on August 29. Ms Shai, 20, was a student at the Letaba Technical and Vocational Education and Training […]
A WOMAN was allegedly killed by her boyfriend – just a month after he was released from jail for murdering his ex-girlfriend.
Kgaogelo Shai, from Tzaneen, South Africa, was last seen with boyfriend and suspect Ronny Kgatla on August 29.
Ms Shai, 20, was a student at the Letaba Technical and Vocational Education and Training College (TVET) in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
Her body was found with “visible injuries” by police in the village of Mokgoloboto, where the couple lived separately, on the morning of September 7.
Fears for her safety grew after local police revealed that her boyfriend, now the prime suspect in the case, had also killed his previous girlfriend.
Kgatla, 35, took his own life and his body was found on 31st August.
Police spokesperson Motlafelo Mojapelo said: “We can confirm that Ronny Kgatla was a parolee after he was incarcerated for murdering his former girlfriend.”
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A correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that Kgatla had recently been released from jail, IOL reports.
He said he had received a 14-year sentence in 2015 for murdering his girlfriend.
Mr Nxumalo said: “He was released on parole on July 16, 2020 as he had served the minimum required time and had completed rehabilitation programmes.
“The sentence was due to expire in 2027.
“The Department of Correctional Services has initiated an investigation following his suicide and links to a murder case (girlfriend) alleged to have been committed by Kgatla.”
South Africa’s rates of femicide – defined as the intentional killing of women because of their gender – are five times the global average, according to data examined by The South African.
The issue is believed to have worsened amid the coronavirus lockdown, though recent crime statistics reported by Foreign Policy show that nearly 178,000 crimes had been committed against women between 2018 and 2019.
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On the subject of Ms Shai’s death, a police spokesperson added: “Her body was found in a dry stream by police from Ritavi and the K9 unit, and was already in a state of decomposition.
“The deceased might have been strangled, but there were [other] visible injuries.”
A murder case has been launched against the deceased Mr Kgatla, and investigations continue.
