Limpopo child rapist handed hefty jail sentence

The Polokwane High Court has convicted and sentenced 29-year-old Levy Michael Nangoma to a combined 58 years’ imprisonment following the murder of six-year-old Boithakgatso Komane.

The accused pleaded guilty to all counts, and in his plea agreement, he stated that on December 3, 2021, in Praktiseer, Burgersfort, in Limpopo, he met the deceased at his gate where she was 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 it over the neighbour’s wall, with the hope that he will dispose it before it can be discovered.

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

In aggravation of the sentence, state advocate 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 six-year-old child, who falls under the category of a vulnerable group of persons. She says the deceased lost her life in the process and suffered for no reason.

The court 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. It was ordered the sentences will run concurrently.

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

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

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