Praktiseer child rapist handed a hefty sentence

The Polokwane High Court convicted and sentenced 29 year old, Levy Michael Nangoma to a combined 58 years imprisonment for murder, rape, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice of a 6-year-old girl Boithakgatso Komane.

The accused has pleaded guilty to all counts, and in his plea agreement, he stated that on December 3 2021, in Praktiseer Burgersfort, he met the deceased at his gate looking for her friends to play.

He called the deceased to his bedroom, closed the door, and grabbed and pinned her to his bed where he raped her.

“The accused then took off his t-shirt and strangled the deceased with it, later picked up the body and dumped over the neighbour’s wall, with the hope that he will dispose it off before it can be discovered.

He further took the deceased clothes and threw them in the pit toilet at his home,” said Limpopo NPA’ spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.

In aggravation of the sentence, the state Adv. Muneiwa Ratshibvumo argued that the offence is serious and prevalent, being more serious as it carries a minimum sentence and that the offence was perpetrated against a 6-year-old child, who falls under the category of a vulnerable group of persons. She then said that the deceased has lost her life in the process and suffered for no reason.

The court has sentenced the accused to 25 years imprisonment for murder, 25 years imprisonment for rape, five years imprisonment for kidnapping and three years imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice and further ordered the sentence to run concurrently.

The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm and unfit to work with children.

The NPA welcomes the sentence and applauded the good work done by Ratshibvumo and investigating officer Sergeant Makutuma Ngoasheng.

“We hope that perpetrators of these crimes will learn from the sentences imposed,” added Malabi-Dzhangi.