A former Mankweng police officer, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for shooting his ex-girlfriend seven times despite a protection order that barred him from contacting or approaching her.
Sergeant Alfred Mokgoadi Malemela (40) was sentenced by the Mankweng Regional Court on 17 September 2026.
In addition to the life sentence, he received a further two year prison term for going against a protection order. The conviction arises from an incident that occurred on 27 September 2024, when Malemela confronted his ex-girlfriend, Victoria Ramaphoko (38), near Mankweng and opened fire on her.
Ramaphoko sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her upper body and was rushed to hospital, where she survived after undergoing emergency medical treatment.
At the time of the shooting, Malemela was subject to an active domestic violence protection order which prohibited him from contacting or approaching Ramaphoko.
The court found that he had violated the order when he carried out the attack. Following the incident, members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) arrested Malemela. He remained in custody after several bail applications were unsuccessful.
The sentence brings an end to a lengthy court process, that attracted significant attention from organisations working to combat gender-based violence in Limpopo. During the proceedings, the investigation team was commended for its work in securing the conviction and sentence.
The court’s decision sends a strong message that law enforcement officials who abuse their positions and disregard court orders will be held accountable for their actions.
