The 37-year-old boyfriend of a murdered woman who was kidnapped in Hartbeespoort and later set alight in her car, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the North Gauteng High Court.

Tebogo Setlhare was found guilty of kidnapping, robbery, murder, defeating the ends of justice and possession of suspected stolen property.

Setlhare’s girlfriend, Kgaugelo Tshwae (28) went missing in November 2019 after a weekend in Hartbeespoort with friends.

Her mother reported her missing the following day at the Ga-Rankuwa police station. While she was at the police station, she received a call that her daughter’s burnt body had been found in her vehicle in the bushes at Mmakau.

The murderer accompanied the family to identify the body.

“Following an intensive investigation, Setlhare was linked to the murder when Tshwae’s bank card was found in his possession,” said police spokesperson, Maria Nkabinde.

The District Commissioner of Brits police cluster, Major General Modisagaarekwe Mosimanegape welcomed the life sentence handed down to Setlhare.

He said that gender-based violence is one of the national priorities of the police.