6 days ago
Outrage as one of Thorisho Themane's killers applies for parole
Outrage as one of Thorisho Themane's killers applies for parole
POLOKWANE – The family of the late Thorisho Themane has vowed to oppose the parole application of Kgothatso Teffo, one of the juveniles convicted of his murder.
Read more: 10 years behind bars for each teen in Thorisho Themane murder
Teffo, currently held at a juvenile correctional facility in Vhembe, applied for parole instead of transitioning to an adult prison as expected when he turns 21 later this year.
The Themane family was invited to a meeting in July by a social worker overseeing the parole process in what is a standard step that includes notifying victims or their families.
Thorisho, a student and musician, was killed in 2019 in Fauna Park by a group of four teenagers and two adults. The brutal assault was captured on video and widely shared on social media, sparking national outrage.
In 2022, Teffo, along with Raofa Mahloromela Vincent Mothomela, Tshiamo Miyeni, and Lesetja Kabelo Ramokgopa, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for murder.
The Limpopo High Court ruled that Teffo should serve three years in a juvenile facility before transfer to an adult prison. Miyeni and Mothomela were each to serve two years in juvenile detention, and Ramokgopa one year, before similar transfers.
Read more: #ThorishoThemane: Accused teens ask for second chance during sentencing
The Themane family has launched a petition to block Teffo's release, which had garnered 2 559 signatures by Tuesday afternoon.
Karabo Themane, Thorisho's brother, said the petition will first be submitted to the social worker handling the case. If that fails, they plan to continue gathering signatures and present them to the parole board.
Under South African law, juvenile parole applies to offenders aged 10–18, with those aged 14 and above having full criminal capacity. Provisions can extend to offenders up to 21 who committed their crimes while under 18, and parole may be considered after as little as three years of a 10-year sentence.
'Justice has not been adequately served,' Karabo said on behalf of the family. 'While our family continues to live with this irreversible loss, those responsible are being afforded leniency we find incomprehensible. We call upon the justice system to remain resolute and ensure that the sentence handed down is enforced in its entirety.'
