Evander court hands down four life sentences to rapist

Christopher Seopa, convicted of a series of violent crimes including multiple rapes, has been given four life sentences by the Evander Regional Court on September 5. He will effectively spend 45 years in jail.

Seopa was found guilty on nine counts, including five rapes, two kidnappings, possession of an unlicensed firearm, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and escaping from custody.

The offences date back to 2017, when Seopa was first linked to a firearm incident in Evander. More seriously, in 2019, two women reported being abducted and repeatedly raped in a secluded spot near the Adullam Mission Station near Evander, after accepting lifts from a man matching Seopa’s description.

Seopa escaped custody in 2020 but was re-arrested in 2022 at his family home in Limpopo. Throughout his trial, which included testimony from 49 witnesses and forensic experts, Seopa maintained his silence and dismissed his legal team.

Despite claiming mental incapacity, a psychiatric evaluation deemed him fit to stand trial. At sentencing, Seopa submitted his own four-page report, an unusual move that surprised the court.

Magistrate Charmaine La Marque said the the lengthy sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and a commitment to justice for his victims.

NOTE: This story was change to reflect the correct sentence handed down.

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