Father sentenced to 25 years for strangling two-year-old son with shoelace

A father was sentenced to 25 years in prison for strangling his two-year-old son with a shoelace, as reported by the Madikwe Regional Court. On May 4, 2024, the accused, Lucas Mmakgathi, took his son to the town with the mother's consent. However, instead of returning home, the accused led the child into the nearby bush, where he used the shoelace to fatally strangle him. Mmakgathi was apprehended the following day, as stated by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

During the sentencing process, State Prosecutor Zola Mpayipheli emphasized the extreme cruelty, hatred, and disregard for human life demonstrated by Mmakgathi's actions. The State argued that the accused had deprived the child of his most fundamental constitutional right: the right to life. In his guilty plea, Mmakgathi claimed that anger towards the mother for informing him that he was not the biological father of the child led him to commit the heinous act.

After witnessing the child's final breath, Mmakgathi was referred for a mental evaluation, which found him fit to stand trial. The prosecution contended that genuine remorse was not evident, as the guilty plea appeared to be an attempt to secure a lesser sentence. The court agreed that Mmakgathi posed a danger to society and should be removed from it for an extended period.

Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended the swift response of the South African Police Service and the efforts of prosecutors and the court in delivering justice. Makhari highlighted the seriousness with which the courts view violent crimes against children and the commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society and ensuring accountability for such horrific acts.