Two Sex Workers Sentenced for ‘Horny’ Client’s Murder

In a significant turn of events, the High Court of South Africa’s Gauteng Division sentenced two sex workers to life imprisonment on October 4 after convicting them of murdering a 29-year-old male client.

The incident occurred on April 13, 2019, in Sandton, north of Johannesburg.

Refilwe Mokgotlo, 29, and Julia Rihlampfu, 33, were also sentenced to 15 years for robbery and six months for theft.

The court revealed that on the night of the crime, the two women traveled from Tshwane to a Fourways pub in search of clients. Around 3 a.m., they left the pub with the victim to his Sandton home after he purchased food.

The deceased had consensual sex with Mokgotlo while Rihlampfu was in the other room. During the encounter, an altercation broke out, leading to the victim’s death.

According to NPA Regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, Mokgotlo strangled the victim with a charger cable. The deceased’s body was discovered when his father, unable to reach him, asked a family friend to check on him. The friend found the victim and alerted the authorities. Video footage showed the two women entering the residence with the victim and leaving with his house keys.

Evidence presented in court included a cellphone charger cord found around the victim’s neck and fingerprints linking the accused to the crime scene.

Conversely, Senior State Advocate Evelyn Moseki noted that the accused conspired together and exploited the victim’s generosity when he welcomed them into his home and offered them food.

One sex worker commented on the challenges faced in their profession, stating, “Like any profession, sex workers are different. Some work to support their families, while others exploit clients out of greed. Our jobs are tough, and clients can take advantage of us. There are two sides to every story, but I believe killing the man was wrong,” she said.