A 45-year-old man who has been arrested in connection with a murder of his girlfriend is a serial offender who was released on parole for rape just over three months ago.
Department of correctional services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that Bosman Mashinini was released from the Losperfontein Correctional Centre in the North West on June 30.
Nxumalo said Mashinini was sentenced to eight years in prison and had served four years 10 months of his sentence before his release three months ago.
Mashinini’s record also reflects that he had three other convictions prior to the rape case dating back to 1997.
“In 1997, he was sentenced to three years for culpable homicide and it was wholly suspended for five years. And in 1999, he served six months for housebreaking. He proceeded to commit a robbery offence in 2006 and was sentenced to 10 years. While on parole in 2016, he was thus charged for rape,” Nxumalo said.
Mashinini made his first appearance in the Nebo magistrate's court in Limpopo on Monday for allegedly murdering his girlfriend Zinhle Mokoena, 21, just hours after she was released on free bail for an assault case he had opened against her.
Two weeks ago, justice and correctional services minister Ronald Lamola said 555 crimes were committed by parolees in the first quarter of 2022/23.
These included 50 murders, 71 robberies, 66 house break-ins and 123 thefts.
Nxumalo said they were concerned about parolees who end up re-offending after being released as this undermines the effectiveness of the department’s community corrections system, adding that a review process to improve the system was under ay.
“Some go to an extent of questioning our parole system as a country. What needs to be understood is that probation and parole are intended to be alternatives to incarceration. As a result, people who are unable to comply with parole conditions can only be routed back behind bars,” he said.
Nxumalo said they were committed to monitoring parolees and probationers, while getting more involved with the community and public safety through availing resources, including 518 new vehicles strictly to service community corrections.
He said the new vehicles would add to the existing fleet and ensure that all areas across the country are sufficiently covered when it comes to monitoring parolees.
“Attention is also given to case-management committees in terms of preparing files for parole boards. Repeat offenders must be clearly identified so that additional interventions are applied in correcting the offending behaviour,” Nxumalo said.
Sowetan previously reported that Mokoena died after being stabbed multiple times at Mashinini’s family home after she apparently went there to fetch her belongings and break up with him.
Mashinini had opened an assault case against her following a violent fight which, according the families, left both of them with injuries last week.
Mashinini’s mother Elizabeth Sikhosana told Sowetan on Sunday that she was tired of her son being a menace to society after he had been incarcerated on numerous occasions.
“I don’t even want to see his face. My son has been in and out of prison from the time he was 18. I have attended so many court cases that I have lost count. This is the worst he has ever done,” the mother said.
She said the suspect started dating Zinhle three months ago, adding that she was always opposed to her son living with his girlfriend in her home because they were not married.
Traces of blood on the passage walls lay testament to the violent attack while piles of clothing could be seen on the unmade bed the couple once shared.
“There was always shouting and fighting in this house because of them. I told Zinhle that she must not come here anymore. Now look what has happened. My heart breaks for her family,” she said.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
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