LIMPOPO – The three men, two from the Mahwelereng area and one from Tzaneen, were each recently sentenced in the respective courts, for sexual crimes committed from as early as 2015 said Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
Solly Matsobane Matjila (28) and Percia Madimetja Rafapa (28) were sentenced by the Mokerong District Court in Mahwelereng.
Matjila was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, plus and extra five years for malicious damage to property by the Mokerong District Court.
“These sentences emanate from an incident which occurred on 11 October 2015, where the accused raped a 23-year-old victim in her home in the early hours of the morning, at around 02:10.”
Rafapa, from Ga-Mmalepetleke village in the Mosestjane area outside Mahwelereng, was sentenced to 20 years for rape plus an extra 15 years for robbery, for the rape of a 25-year-old victim on 3 July 2016.
“The accused attacked the victim while she was walking home at around 23:25. He dragged her into the nearby bushes where he raped and robbed her off R500 cash.”
The third convicted, a 41-year-old man, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of his 8-year-old step daughter by the Lenyenye Regional Court.
“The accused had sexually abused the victim since August 2015, until the child blew the whistle and subsequently, the accused was arrested later that year (2015).”
General Ledwaba has applauded the team of detectives in the Tzaneen FCS and Mahwelereng who were involved in the investigations of these three incidents for the job well done.
“This has proven the professional and dedicated performance by the police in the fight against all sexual offences effectively and consistently. We hope that these sentences will serve as a deterrent to all the rapists out there, that crime does not pay and that they must stop targeting our women otherwise, the long arm of the law will deal with them mercilessly and without compromise, he concluded.
