LIMPOPO – With the conviction and sentencing of Thinavhuyo Magogodela (40), a resident of Haluvhimbi village, to two life terms and an additional 20 years’ imprisonment, local traditional leader Vhamusanda Thavhayavhathu Masikhwa was among the first to applaud the Sibasa Regional Court for “standing firm against those who terrorise communities and abuse women and children”.

Masikhwa urged the Department of Correctional Services to review the parole system, saying traditional leaders are concerned that many parolees end up committing new crimes after their release.

The chairperson of the Real Man Foundation, Calvin Nengudza, echoed this call, saying his organisation has observed that a significant number of parolees tend to reoffend, sometimes committing even more serious crimes.

“In light of this concerning trend, we urge the government to critically review and possibly limit the frequent granting of parole. It appears that many individuals are being released without having fully benefitted from meaningful rehabilitation programmes or shown genuine behavioural reform. A more cautious and evidence-based approach to parole decisions could enhance public safety and promote true reintegration for offenders,” Nengudza said.

This follows the conviction and sentencing of Magogodela for three counts of rape and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH).

The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm under Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 and ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders.

According to the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, Magogodela had pleaded not guilty.

The court heard that between October and December 2019, he terrorised women in Haluvhimbi and surrounding areas, threatening victims, dragging them into nearby bushes where he raped them, and robbing them of their belongings.

In one case, he approached a woman and proposed a relationship, and when she refused, he assaulted her in front of her children.

The victims were adult women aged 18, 38, and 47 – one of whom is disabled. The accused was linked to the offences through DNA evidence and later arrested.

“In aggravation of sentence, state advocate Rabelani Mutsinda-Makhera presented victim impact reports compiled by different social workers outlining the severe psychological and emotional harm suffered by the victims,” said Malabi-Dzhangi. She added that the state also revealed Magogodela’s previous conviction in 2011 for a similar offence, for which he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment before being released on parole.

Despite that, he reoffended, showing no remorse. The prosecution argued that he viewed women merely as objects to satisfy himself.

Citing statistics that rank South Africa among countries with the highest incidence of rape, with Thohoyandou identified as a hotspot, the state argued there were no substantial or compelling reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.

The NPA welcomed the outcome. The Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Adv Ivy Thenga, said: “These cases bring justice and closure to victims and their families while removing violent criminals from our streets”. She commended the prosecution team and the police for their excellent work in securing the conviction.