POTCHEFSTROOM – The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed three life terms handed down on Monday, 28 September 2020, by the Mogwase Regional Court to a 45-year-old man who was already serving a 25-years imprisonment meted out to him for rape, 15 years for armed robbery and 5 years for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. He was sentenced initially on 12 December 2017 for raping a 15-year-old minor.
The accused, who was 37 during the commission of the crimes, robbed and raped victims between March 2012 and October 2017 at the small and rural village of Mabeskraal, just outside Sun City. He was arrested after raping the minor during a house robbery and subsequently found guilty on charges of armed robbery, rape and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. While serving his imprisonment sentences, the investigating officer, Sgt Morgan Matlhomola Mokodutlo of the Bojanala 2 District Trio Task Team, continued with investigations, linking the accused to three previous housebreaking and rape cases.
In the first incident, the victim aged 35 was sleeping in her house on Friday, 23 March 2012, when the accused overpowered, threatened her with a knife and raped her.
In the second incident, a 56-year-old woman was at her sister’s house on Tuesday, 27 March 2012, when the accused forcefully gained entrance into the house and kidnapped her. She was taken to various places including the accused’s residence where she was threatened and repeatedly raped.
In the third and last incident, a 25-year-old woman was sleeping on Monday, 29 July 2013, when woken up by a cell phone light in her room. It was at that point that the accused overpowered and threatened her before raping her.
Resultant to investigation, the accused was linked with all three cases through forensic evidence. Apart from the three life sentences, the accused was sentenced to a further five years for housebreaking with the intent to kidnap and fifteen years for kidnapping of the 56-year-old woman. These sentences will run concurrently with three life terms.
The Provincial Commissioner applauded the investigating officer and forensic team for their collaboration that led to the conviction. He vowed that no stone will be left unturned in the fight against any form of violence against women and children.
