Ntuthuko Shoba

"You will spend the rest of your natural life in prison unless the parole authorities consider you fit for release in the fullness of time," said ...

“That Ms Pule was pregnant when she was killed is also plainly very aggravating, as is the degree of planning and persistence Mr Shoba demonstrated in bringing about Ms Pule’s death,” the judge said. As a result, he said the criminal law amendment act required him to sentence Shoba to life in prison unless there were circumstantial and compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence. “The shock and trauma Mr Shoba apparently experienced [an argument offered in mitigation of sentencing] do not in themselves bear on the sentence to be imposed.

Convicted murderer Ntuthuko Shoba has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Tshegofatso Pule.Acting Judge Stuart Wilson said.

Shoba was arrested in February 2021 following the damning allegations. Shoba’s role as the prime mover in commissioning the offense makes his situation different. Shoba’s lawyers argued that Shoba should get the same. Shoba attempted to kill Pule at least twice. Pule’s killer was hired by Shoba. Pule was vivacious but she was vulnerable. “A contract killing that exploited the dependency of a young woman and the death of an unborn baby.

Convicted murderer Ntuthuko Shoba in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. Image: Thulani Mbele. Ntuthuko Shoba, the mastermind behind Tshegofatso ...

“While Mr Malephane and Shoba killed Miss Pule, their roles in perpetrating the murder and their conduct after it was carried out are quite different. “Mr Malephane confessed to his part in Miss Pule’s death. Despite initially and unwisely seeking to mislead the police…