Iuze Mukube

Rodney Afrikaner, who is convicted of murdering his partner, is pleading for mercy and a lighter sentence from court. 

He has already spent six years in custody.

The 44-year-old was convicted of murder with indirect intent late last month by Judge Claudia Claasen for fatally attacking his partner Patricia Hochobes (39) with a pair of scissors in the Hakahana informal settlement.

Since his arrest in 2019, he has been incarcerated. 

He argues that the time he has already spent in prison should lead to given a lesser sentence.

During the sentencing submissions held last Friday, Afrikaner expressed his remorse to Claasen.

He asserted that he did not intend to take his girlfriend’s life.

“I am remorseful. That will never get away from me. It was a misunderstanding. I did not plan to kill her,” he told the judge.

Afrikaner stressed that he could not remain in custody for too long due to thoughts of his children and his loss of a loved one [the deceased].

He added that his children were dependent on him and might not have a future without him, as they have already lost their mother.

“I don’t know how my children are doing as I am standing here, especially the youngest one,” Afrikaner said. 

He rejected the State’s claim that he had made contradictory statements.

“The other murderers may have intended to kill, but I did not. The incident was an accident,” he said.

Afrikaner argued that the State’s request for a 30-year sentence is excessive.

He stated that if he had the intention to kill, he would have understood it.

“I cannot believe I killed as I stand here. I am apologising to the family members, children and the family that lost a loved one to forgive me,” he pleaded. 

The State, represented by Tangeni Itula, argued that the accused had ample opportunity to apologise and seek forgiveness from the family members of the victim before the proceedings but failed to do so.

Itula disputed the accused’s claim of being unaware of his children’s well-being.

He pointed out that his sister regularly brings them to visit him in prison.

Itula put it to the accused that murder with indirect intent indicates that while he may not have set out to kill the victim, his actions were reckless and posed a foreseeable risk of death, like the referenced case laws.

The State argued that the accused’s children appeared healthy, a point the accused confirmed. 

However, he contended that his children could not be properly cared for, as they live in a house without water and electricity.

After Afrikaner stated that it was his responsibility as a father to look after his children, the State countered by questioning whether he was truly responsible.

It pointed out that he killed their mother in their presence.

The State said Afrikaner’s apology and remorse should be afforded little weight. 

Claasen postponed the matter to Friday for a ruling on the sentence. 

–mukubeiuze@gmail.com