Four life prison sentences for serial rapist

The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela sentenced a 39-year-old man to four life terms for the rape of four minor girls.

He was convicted on Thursday, April 24, and will serve four life sentences for four counts of rape.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s regional chairperson, Monica Nyuswa, said the accused had pled guilty to all four counts and was subsequently convicted.

The incidents happened in the districts of Nsikazi and Bushbuckridge, from April 2009 to March 2022. The accused would target young girls walking down the street, between the ages of eight and 13.

According to Nyuswa, he lured the victims to secluded areas and raped them. She said the victims did not know their assailant but reported their rape incidents to the police.

The rapist committed these offences while on parole, after serving a sentence for a similar offence.

“In one incident, which happened in 2009, a nine-year-old victim was walking down a street in Shabalala Trust when she came across the convicted, who called her and asked her to call the teacher for him at a nearby school.

As they were walking towards the school, the accused dragged the victim into the bushes and raped her before fleeing the scene.

ALSO READ: Mozambican national sentenced to 20 years for poaching in Kruger National Park

Again, in March 2022, a complainant and her two younger sisters were on their way home from school in Hlangalezwe Trust, in the district of Bushbuckridge, when they were approached by the convicted. He took them to an unfinished house and instructed the complainant’s sisters to wait outside while he raped the 11-year-old. The accused was linked to the crimes through DNA evidence and was arrested and charged,” Nyuswa said.

According to her, Adv Itumeleng Phatudi argued in court that the rapist exploited the minor girls’ vulnerability, and his plea of guilt was due to the overwhelming evidence presented by the State.

ALSO READ: Schoemansdal murder: Relatives in court for shooting former cop

In aggravation of sentence, Phatudi presented victim impact statements compiled by the victims’ parents, facilitated by court preparation officer, Nomfundo Mokoena.

“They detailed the ongoing psychological and emotional trauma experienced by the victims. One parent revealed that since the incident, their daughter has developed issues with anger, nightmares and flashbacks. The court ordered the accused’s name to be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders. He was declared unsuitable to work with children and unfit to possess a firearm,” said Nyuswa.