On Thursday, the High Court sitting in Graskop sentenced Cassius Lionel Khoza  (28) of Alexandria –Marite in Mpumalanga to 12 life sentences and an additional 34 years for multiple counts of housebreaking , kidnapping , rape, assault with grievous bodily harm and assault common.

According to court papers, it was revealed that Khoza started these heinous crimes from January 2013 to 2016 . Some of these incidents were committed near Sabie and some in Calcutta.

Khoza would break into the complainants’s rooms or approach them on the streets, drag his victims to the bushes, rape them and sometimes rob them of their belongings like cell phones and cash.

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In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor Sonja Ntuli led evidence of the victim impact statements and the accused was linked to these offences through DNA.

The state further argued that the prescribed minimum sentences to be imposed in spite of the fact that the accused pleaded guilty because of the overwhelming evidence against Khoza.

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During sentencing, Judge Desmond Nair, ruled that there are no compelling and substantial circumstances for the court to deviate from the minimum sentences prescribed. He then sentenced the accused to 12 life sentences and an additional 34 years direct imprisonment for all the offences Khoza committed.

The accused was convicted on 28 counts, namely; 4 counts of housebreaking, 7 counts of kidnapping, 15 counts of rape, 1 count of assault GBH and 1 of common assault. The accused pleaded guilty.

The NPA welcomes the sentence hoping that it will send a strong message to other would- be rapists who fall prey to defenceless women and children.