The court heard that Maluleke offered the victim and her boyfriend potato chips and liquor at a local tavern on Sunday, February 26, 2022. He then demanded that the boyfriend reimburse him for the cash he had spent on them.

The boyfriend agreed to pay back the money and arranged to go to his house to fetch money while Maluleke remained behind with his girlfriend. On his return, he found the convict had raped his girlfriend after threatening her with a knife. A case of rape was reported to the Giyani SAPS.

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It was later assigned to Dt Sgt Cony Mabunda of the Giyani Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation. Maluleke was arrested two days later and has been in police custody ever since after he was denied bail for fear that he would interfere with the investigation.

Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe, the provincial commissioner of police, has hailed the conviction and punishment imposed on the rapist. “The sentence comes at a time when we’re still observing 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children. It will serve as a deterrent to other offenders,” she said.