An 18-year-old suspect has been found guilty and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for the murder of General Smuts student, Isaac Malebo (19) in 2022.

 19-year-old Isaac Malebo was stabbed and killed in 20222. Photo: Facebook

VEREENIGING. – An 18-year-old who was a student at Thuto Tiro Secondary School in Sebokeng has been sentenced to 8 years imprisonment at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court in Katlehong.

The suspect was arrested last year after stabbing and killing 19-year-old Isaac Malebo, a General Smuts High School pupil. The incident happened on Merriman Street in Vereeniging.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster at her family home in Ironside, De Deur, the 43-year-old mother, Mamokete Malebo said she received a call from her younger son who alerted her that his older brother had been stabbed.

“I was at work when I received the call and I rushed to the scene together with my manager. On arrival at the scene, I found two ambulances attending to Isaac. He was already placed inside one of them and when I saw him, he could not speak,” she said.

“After a while, paramedics told me that they were rushing him to Medi-clinic Vereeniging. They tried all they could to resuscitate him, but the stab wound was too deep, and he was declared deceased,” she added.

Mamokete said whoever took her son’s life, took her gold from her.
“He always said that I must live for him but today he has left me. Isaac was everything to the family and his siblings. He was naughty like any other child but never got into trouble with anything serious.

“Monday was my first time receiving a school-related call about my son.
I have never in the past received a call about Isaac linking him to bullying, drugs, or gangs. That boy took my gold away,” she said.

Police Spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda at the time, confirmed that a teenage suspect was arrested and charged with murder.

Funda says: ” An 18-year-old suspect was found guilty and subsequently given a sentence of 8 years imprisonment.

“We would like to urge school pupils to stay away from negative things that will land them in trouble.”

Funda further stated that the police in Vereeniging are hard at work ensuring that crime in the area is eradicated and that culprits of crime are brought to book.