John Johannes Mahlangu was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crimes he committed around Ekurhuleni, including murder.
On May 11 he appeared in Palm Ridge High Court where he was found guilty and sentenced.
Captain Manyadza Ralidzhivha said Mahlangu’s victim, Ms Thulisile Tryphinah Thwala, was found dead at an unused building in Sedibeng Section on July 2, 2014. Mahlangu was arrested the same day.
“Her face had been eaten by rats. On June 28, 2014, she was seen in the company of her friends at Matikweni Nkuna Section. She was also seen with Mahlangu,” said Capt Ralidzhivha.
At the time of Mahlganu’s arrest, he had scratch marks on his neck and face.
“He was later released while the SAPS awaited a DNA report. In Boksburg, he attacked a 15-year-old girl at the K81 Kanana informal settlement,” said Capt Ralidzhivha.
“Mahlangu found the girl in a shack, threatened her with a knife and raped her. The father heard his daughter crying. She told him there was a man in the room and the man had raped her.
“The suspect tried to run away but the father grabbed him,” said Capt Ralidzhivha.
The SAPS managed to rescue Mahlangu from an angry mob.
“Samples were taken from him for DNA testing. He was linked to a Tembisa rape case.
“Mahlangu was also linked to a Kempton Park case where he allegedly held a woman at gunpoint. He took her to a yard where he overpowered and raped her,” he said.
Capt Ralidzhivha said on May 11, Mahlangu was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
His was sentenced to:
- Five years on count one for kidnapping.
- 10 years on count two for rape (five years on count one to run concurrently with 10 year sentence on count two).
- Five years imprisonment on count three for kidnapping.
- Life imprisonment on count four for rape.
- Life imprisonment on count five for murder (five years imprisonment of count three to run concurrently with count four and five).
- Five years imprisonment on count six for housebreaking and theft (to run concurrently with life sentence).
- “The effective sentence is life imprisonment,” said Capt Ralidzhivha.
The Tembisa Police Station commander, Brigadier Vuyokazi Ndebele, thanked the witnesses for their cooperation.
“By working together we will make a difference in our area,” said Brigadier Ndebele.
