Sekhukhune serial rapist handed a hefty sentence
The victim, Thabitha Hlakodi's body was recovered after a few days and later buried without the missing body parts.
SEKHUKHUNE – A rapist and murderer has been handed a hefty sentence by the Polokwane High Court on April 29.
Gerald Khomotso Makua (32) was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 20 years for two rape cases, five years for defeating the ends of justice, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 15 years for housebreaking with intent to commit an offence. These sentences are to run concurrently with the first count of life term imprisonment.
Makua raped two elderly women and brutally murdered one of them during his reign of terror between 2016 and 2019 in Sekhukhune.
“On August 28, 2016, Makua found a 62-year-old woman collecting firewood in the bush at Legolaneng Village. She was attacked, raped and brutally killed, and her body was later cut into pieces.
“Makua took her dress and wrapped the victim’s hands and head in it, and fled the scene. The accused managed to dump the body parts in a pit toilet in Mogaung Village,” said Limpopo SAPS’ spokesperson, Lt Col Mmaphaswa Seabi.
The victim, Thabitha Hlakodi’s body was recovered after a few days and later buried without the missing body parts.
According to the SAPS, in Mogaung Village on the evening of June 8, 2019, Makua gained entry into a house and found a 59-year-old woman. He threatened and raped her, and fled the scene afterwards.
“A rape case was opened at Hlogotlou SAPS. WO Moses Matema was assigned to investigate the case and through his indefatigable abilities and dedication, he finally managed to apprehend the rapist at his residence in Sterkfontein Village on April 7, 2020. The accused was positively linked with DNA to both incidents and was never granted bail up to his sentencing,”said Seabi.
The Limpopo police commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe, complimented the investigating team of detectives who ensured that the high court imposed a lengthy incarceration on Makua.
