Man who burnt girlfriend and 11-month-old child has been sentenced to life

A 36-year-old man has been handed two life sentences

Michael Pieterson was sentenced by the Kimberley high court for the murder of his girlfriend and their 11-month-old daughter.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said “Pieterson was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Kantsi Mokgele and the little baby Neo Mokgele,”

“After killing them, he burnt them and dumped their remains in the veld near Windsorton.”

“They were found by a passerby, burnt beyond recognition [and] hidden under trees in May 2019.”

Prosecutor Ronewa Makhaga on the matter argued in court that the accused, Pieterson inflicted the deceased with horrid injuries before killing them.

The court also heard that Mokgele was stabbed several times in the face, body and stomach, and then burnt alive.

“Furthermore, Pieterson stabbed their baby to death and she also sustained facial stab wounds,” said Senokoatsane.

“Acting judge Willem Coetzee pointed out that in spite of Pieterson being given a second chance when he was released on parole, he returned to society to commit more serious crimes.”