Johannesburg - A Joburg firefighter convicted and sentenced for killing his boss remains on the job much to the outrage of the victim’s family. The family of Lesedi Mphatswe, a station commander killed while on duty in 2015, have opened up about their shock at learning that his killer, Lesetja Kgaffe, was not sacked. Despite being convicted and sentenced in January last year for killing Mphatswe, Kgaffe remains free after being granted leave to appeal both the conviction and sentence. He was also granted bail.
The Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court sentenced Kgaffe to a 12-year jail term after ruling that he had murdered Mphatswe.
Mphatswe was shot dead when he tried to serve a disciplinary letter on Kgaffe at his Vanderbijlpark home. The two were both stationed at the Orange Farm Fire Station, south of Joburg. He was released from jail in July last year after the high court in Pretoria granted him leave to appeal both the conviction and sentence. The Star understood that Kgaffe maintained his innocence on grounds that he shot Mphatswe in self-defence.
“The accused paid bail of R20 000 pending the outcome of his appeal against the conviction and sentence,” said Phindi Mjonondwane, Gauteng spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority.
