POLOKWANE – The Polokwane High Court has sentenced 34-year-old Maipa Sole Malegodi to 20 years’ imprisonment for the rape of three women in separate incidents committed between 2012 and 2018 in the Mankweng policing area.

The sentencing was delivered on Monday (August 25).

During the trial, the court heard that Malegodi targeted women aged between 18 and 24.

He threatened his victims with dangerous weapons before raping them and robbing them of their belongings.

The cases were initially reported to police in Mankweng before being transferred to the Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, where Sergeant Ishmael Matjeka was assigned to investigate.

Following a thorough investigation, the accused was arrested and positively linked to the crimes through DNA evidence.

The court imposed the following sentences:

• Count 1: 25 years’ imprisonment, with five years wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of a similar offence during the suspension period.

• Count 2: 10 years’ imprisonment.

• Count 3: Three years’ imprisonment.

• Count 4: 25 years’ imprisonment, with five years wholly suspended under the same conditions as Count 1.

The court further ordered that the sentences for Counts 2, 3, and 4 run concurrently with Count 1, resulting in an effective 20 years’ imprisonment.

Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the sentence and commended the efforts of the investigating officer and all stakeholders involved in ensuring justice was served.