The Middelburg High Court convicted and sentenced Joseph Thabang Selepe (30), to four life terms for two counts of murder and two counts of rape he committed in Kwaggafontein, in the district of KwaMhlanga.

The crimes were committed during the period between March 2020 to May 2021.

Selepe’s modus operandi was to force his victims to secluded areas rape them and strangle them to death.

The first victim, Pauline Sangweni, was living a street away from the accused’s place of residence.

On 20 March 2020, the victim left Kwaggafontein A, intending to catch a taxi en route to KwaMhlanga, but never returned home.

Her half naked corpse was found near Sokapo Secondary School, the following day.

The second victim, Zanele Mnguni, from KwaMhlanga, was last seen by her siblings on 11 December 2021, when she left home for the Kwaggafontein Mall.

Mnguni also failed to return home.

She was found raped and killed the following day by a passer-by, near the same school where the first victim’s body was discovered.

The accused was linked to the crimes through DNA after he inserted his SIM card into one of the victim’s cellular phone.

In court the accused entered a plea of innocence, denying all allegations levelled against him.

State Advocate Themba Lusenga, led the testimonies of several witnesses, including the evidence of a pathologist, who confirmed that both victims were raped before they were strangled.

The victims died a horrible death by manual strangulation following the violent rapes.

In aggravation of the sentence, Advocate Lusenga argued to the court that the accused treated the victims “as animals by leaving them exposed, half naked on the street.”

Handing down the sentence Judge Kgankie Phahlamohlaka found no reason to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life.

He sentenced Selepe to four life terms.