Limpopo courts impose heavy sentences on murderer, rapist
A pastor was sentenced for rape in the Thohoyandou High Court, while a murderer was found guilty in the Dzanani Regional Court.
LIMPOPO – The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba, has welcomed the long jail sentences handed down to a rapist and murderer.
Samuel Fhuatuwani Thavheni (45), who was accused of rape, and Pfumembe Vele (29), who was accused of murder, were this week, slapped with separate, long jail terms by the Thohoyandou High Court and the Dzanani Regional Court respectively.
Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe said in a statement that Thavheni, who is a pastor, was sentenced to life imprisonment following an incident where he raped a 14-year-old church member.
“On 3 March 2016 at about 20:30, he raped the member in the bushes in a village within the Tshamutumbu policing area, outside Musina. The victim went to church that night to pray with other members when she received a message that she was called by the pastor,” Ngoepe added.
He said she was convinced to accompany the pastor to go and pray at the nearby bushes before he raped her.
“The victim alerted her family about the ordeal and the police were notified. The case was assigned to Det Sergt Mulalo Yvonne Manyuwa of the Saps Musina Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation. She worked tirelessly until the accused was nabbed and subsequently sentenced,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Vele was sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment for killing Simon Ramabulana (27).
Ramabulana was murdered on 4 October 2017 at Tshituni Tsha Fhasi village in the Mphephu policing area.
“A group of men were drinking liquor at a local tavern when the deceased and the accused fought for a cigarette. In the process, the accused then struck the deceased with a stone on the head and he died instantly,” Ngoepe said.
The matter was reported to the police and Det Sergt Sivhugwana of the Saps Mphephu was assigned to investigate it further.
“Following intensive investigations conducted by the member, the suspect was arrested, positively linked to the murder and then sentenced,” he concluded.
Ledwaba appreciated both the investigating officers for making sure that the criminals were sent to jail.
