TWO rapists were sentenced to a total of 25 years in jail by the Naphuno regional court on Thursday.
The first rapist, Mpho Barnabas Matlou (50) from Malegege village was convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in a house in Makhwibidung village in June last year, and was sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment.
The court heard that Matlou entered the house at around 20:30 and threatened the victim with a knife before raping her.
In the second case, Patamedi Lucky Lebea (23) from Lenyenye was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in Motjeteng village in November 2012, and sentenced to 10 years in jail.
The victim testified that she was on her way home at around 01:50 when she was confronted by Lebea who threatened to shoot her before raping her.
Tzaneen cluster police commander, Maj Gen Maggy Mathebula, commended members of the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit, whose investigations led to the convictions of the two rapists.
She said the sentences would serve as a deterrent to would-be rapists.
