Tavern fight over a girlfriend ends in a knife killing. Bloemfontein court gives Mpho Maila 10 years

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years of direct imprisonment for a murder at a tavern in Bloemspruit, Bloemfontein, the South African Police Service said in a statement.

The Bloemfontein Regional Court convicted and sentenced Mpho Maila on Monday, 26 October 2026, for the killing of Kamohelo Tseisa, 27, at a well-known local tavern in Bloemspruit.

The court heard that Tseisa was at the tavern with his girlfriend on 7 September 2025 when an altercation arose between the two of them. Patrons intervened and reprimanded the couple.

Tseisa then confronted another female patron, Meikie, asking why she was involving herself in matters between him and his girlfriend. A fight broke out between Tseisa and Meikie.

Maila intervened, and a serious fight followed between him and Tseisa. During that fight, Maila produced a knife and stabbed Tseisa, who fell to the ground. Maila fled the scene and a murder case was opened.

Police traced and arrested Maila the same day, at about 09:15. The knife used in the stabbing was found in his possession.

He was charged with murder and later released on bail, but continued to attend court proceedings until the matter was finalised this week.

Sergeant Tsholo investigated the case under the guidance of Prosecutor Mohapi.

The statement was issued by the office of the Provincial Commissioner for the Free State. The full statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72080.