Karabo Mokoena
Karabo Mokoena (1995 - May 2017) was a South African gender-based violence victim. Her brutal murder by her boyfriend sparked outrage, with women using the hashtag #MenAreTrash.[1]Her burnt remains were found buried in a shallow grave in a deserted field in Johannesburg,Gauteng.[2]
Background
[edit]Karabo Mokoena was a part-time business student and was involved in a relationship with Sandile Mantsoe, who was a forex trader. Before her disappearance, it was reported that she was involved in a heated argument with Mantsoe outside a nightclub in Sandton, Gauteng.[3] [4]Mantsoe claimed he left Karabo in the apartment after their argument and upon his return found her dead. He was charged with premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice.[5][6]
Murder
[edit]Sandile Mantsoe later confessed to police that he killed Karabo and how he disposed his body.[7][8]"He said he stuffed her body into a bin, rolled it out and into his gold BMW and drove to his family home in Lyndhurst, in southern Johannesburg. He picked up a tyre, acid and a container and drove to a filling station to buy petrol, which he used to douse Karabo's body in Bramley, where he buried her body."[9][10]
Mantsoe told police he killed Karabo because they both had a ritual to give them power for his forex business.[11]Mokoena’s charred body was found in an open veld by a passer-by in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg on 29 April 2017. Sandile Mantsoe was found guilty at the High Court in Johannesburg of murdering his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend Karabo Mokoena, whose stabbed and burnt remains were found buried in a shallow grave in a field in Johannesburg.[12] The case has caused shock and outrage, with the victim becoming symbolic of the violence faced by women in South Africa.[13]
In May 2025, Olerato Mongale, a journalist who covered Mokoena's story, was kidnapped and murdered. Her body was found not far from the area where Mokoena's body was found.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "South Africa's Sandile Mantsoe guilty of Karabo Mokoena murder". 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Services | SAPS (South African Police Service)". www.saps.gov.za. Archived from the original on 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Geldenhuys, Kotie (September 2018). "Crime series - murdered by an abusive lover : Karabo's story - Part 2". Servamus Community-based Safety and Security Magazine. 111 (9): 42–47. hdl:10520/EJC-1096569c9b.
- ^ "Sandile Mantsoe found guilty of murdering Karabo Mokoena". The Mail & Guardian. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Mantsoe 'a devil in disguise', sentenced to 32 years". The Mail & Guardian. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Sandile Mantsoe found guilty of murdering Karabo Mokoena". The Mail & Guardian. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Khumalo, Juniour. "Sandile Mantsoe's admission to killing Mokoena submitted as evidence". News24. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Koko, Khaya (2018-10-03). "#KaraboMokoena: Sandile Mantsoe's admission to cop allowed". IOL. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Karabo Mokoena's killer was heartless' arrogant and remorseless: prosecutor". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Chilling CCTV footage of Sandile Mantsoe moments before he disposes of Karabo Mokoena's body". SowetanLIVE. Archived from the original on 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Police testimony alleges Mantsoe admitted a ritual sacrifice killed Karabo Mokoena". The Mail & Guardian. 2018-04-19. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Gender Equality welcomes the sentencing of Karabo Mokoena's killer | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Ntuli, Philile (2018-04-22). "When Love Weakens: Karabo Mokoena's Courtship with Death". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Njilo, Nonkululeko (2025-05-28). "Family and friends of slain Olorato Mongale tell of their immeasurable pain". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2025-06-09.