Ex-Police Officer, Cousin Sentenced to Life for Murder of Lesbian Activist Refiloe Malope

Two cousins, including a former police officer, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal 2022 murder of 28-year-old Refiloe Gift Malope, a well-known LGBTQ+ activist from Kgaphamadi Village, Limpopo.

The Polokwane High Court on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, found Thabo Moses Mokwana (42), a former police officer, and Modirela Maxwell Mokwana (45) guilty of murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

The court handed both men life sentences for murder, seven years for kidnapping, and three years for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning each will serve life imprisonment. Additionally, the court declared them unfit to possess firearms under Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

Despite pleading not guilty, the court heard strong evidence from eyewitnesses who testified that on May 9, 2022, the pair forcibly abducted Refiloe Malope into a vehicle. A missing person report was filed shortly afterward, leading to a search that tragically ended with her decomposed body discovered in a mine shaft in Benoni, Gauteng.

Refiloe’s murder sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, particularly because she was killed by people she reportedly knew and trusted.

During sentencing, State Advocate Patrick Magoda presented a Victim Impact Statement from Refiloe’s family, compiled by court preparation officer Morongwe Moifo. The statement detailed the emotional and psychological trauma caused by the loss, emphasizing how deeply the betrayal affected them.

“The deceased worked tirelessly to ensure members of the LGBTQ+ community were treated with dignity, integrity, and fairness,” the statement read.

The prosecution argued that the killing not only violated Refiloe’s constitutional right to life but also betrayed the public trust — especially by the first accused, a former police officer expected to uphold the law.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga, commended the efforts of Advocate Magoda and Investigating Officer Florence Hlahla from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit for securing the conviction.

“This outcome reaffirms the commitment of the National Prosecuting Authority to seek justice in cases that impact the safety and dignity of vulnerable communities,” Thenga said.