…as husband says victim suffered 26 stab wounds
Kabelo Masoabi
TWO siblings from Salang village, have given emotional testimonies in the High Court, recounting how they witnessed their mother being fatally stabbed by her lover on 17 November 2024.
The children, an 11-year-old boy and his 15-year-old sister at the time of the incident, told the court this week that they saw the accused, 36-year-old Liphapang Rasethuntša, repeatedly stabbing their mother, ’Mahlophang Selisi, after ambushing her on the road.
The court heard that at around 7pm on the day of the incident, ‘Mahlophang left home to collect a cellphone from a neighbour. After she had been gone for some time, the children heard cries outside. The boy said he immediately recognised his mother’s voice.
When they rushed outside, they found a man pinning her to the ground and stabbing her repeatedly with a knife.
The siblings told the court they picked up stones and hurled them at the attacker in an attempt to stop the assault. They identified Rasethuntša by his voice as he spoke to their mother during the attack.
After stepping away from the victim, ‘Mahlophang’s daughter reportedly told Rasethuntša he would be arrested. He allegedly walked away without responding.
The children further testified that Rasethuntša was well known to them because he regularly visited their mother at home.
Ms Selisi was rushed to hospital but died while receiving treatment.
The court also heard that before the fatal attack, ‘Mahlophang had opened an assault case against Rasethuntša. Although he was arrested, he was later released on bail. A few days later, he allegedly attacked and killed her.
State witness, ’Matsekiso Serabele, testified that Rasethuntša came to her home before the murder and told her he had already decided her sister’s fate.
“He said people would either hate him or accept him once he walked freely in the streets again,” she told the court.
In her police statement, Ms Serabele alleged that Rasethuntša had previously punched ‘Mahlophang in the eye, causing swelling. She further claimed he had abducted and raped her sister at his home. The matter was reported to police, leading to his arrest before he was later granted bail.
In a written confession recorded at the Mokhotlong Magistrate’s Court on 19 November 2024, Rasethuntša pleaded guilty to murder.
He told the court he had been romantically involved with the married woman and that the two exchanged cellphones regularly. According to the confession, he became suspicious after discovering a contact saved as “My Husband” on ‘Mahlophang’s phone.
Rasethuntša claimed he knew ‘Mahlophang’s husband was saved under the name “Selisi” and confronted her about the contact. He alleged she admitted to having another romantic relationship with a man identified as Tšeliso.
He said he forced ‘Mahlophang to phone Tšeliso and end the relationship, which reportedly led to a heated verbal exchange between the two men.
Rasethuntša further claimed he later followed ‘Mahlophang and Tšeliso to her house and overheard them discussing plans to falsely implicate him in a sexual offence so he could be imprisoned.
He told the court that a few days later he was summoned to the police station and charged with a sexual offence involving ‘Mahlophang. After being released on bail, he allegedly attempted to arrange a meeting at the chief’s place to resolve the matter, but ‘Mahlophang refused.
“Later that night I saw her and decided to take her life. I met her and asked why she was refusing a settlement. I stabbed her because she wanted me to go to jail for lies. I do not know what drove me to do that. After hearing that she had died, I surrendered myself to the police,” part of the confession reads.
‘Mahlophang’s husband, Bernard Selisi, who works in South Africa, stated in a police statement that he counted 26 stab wounds on his wife’s body during the post-mortem examination.
The examination reportedly found that ‘Mahlophang sustained stab wounds to the body, thighs, hands, back, neck and head.
The suspected murder weapon, described as a brown Okapi knife, was produced in court as evidence by investigating officer Detective Police Constable Letlatsa Letlala.
The matter was postponed to 2 June 2026, when a pathologist is expected to clarify additional aspects of the post-mortem report.
