A serial rapist who preyed upon women in the Bergville, Ematsheni and Ladysmith areas was recently convicted. On August 24, the Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Thokozani Joseph Kubheka (34) to 10 life sentences.
Kubheka stood accused of 34 counts, which included housebreaking (nine counts), rape (16 counts), robbery with aggravating circumstances (seven counts), as well as kidnapping (two counts).
Kubheka was a cunning criminal who preyed on the Bergville/Ematsheni, Roosboom and Ladysmith communities.
He would observe and gather information about premises in the area, looking for houses where there were only female occupants. He would break into the houses during the night and early hours of the morning.
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Once inside, he would threaten his victims using a firearm, after which he would rape and often rob them. The accused was quite meticulous in making sure he evaded capture and in most instances he was unidentifiable to his victims.
His reign of terror began in 2009 and continued until his capture earlier this year.
A link investigator from the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection & Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) arrested the accused after his DNA profile linked him to the crime scenes.
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