The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) welcomed the 13 life sentences and 340 years in prison handed down by the South Gauteng High Court  in Palm Ridge, Ekurhuleni on Lebogang Gift Mokoena – one of two taxi drivers behind abductions, rapes and the robbing of female taxi commuters in Gauteng.

Social Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said the harsh sentence given to Mokoena will serve as a deterrent and was a welcome message to start the 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children.

“As Government (GPG), we have zero-tolerance for the abuse of women and children. We welcome the sentencing of Mokoena and it is a victory for all Gauteng women. Gender based violence has no place in society and we celebrate every time when a perpetrator faces the full might of the law. We applaud the police, the judiciary and everyone who worked so hard to ensure that we arrived at this sentencing. It is a great way to start the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. We celebrate with those who survived the brutal attacks,” said MEC Mayathula-Khoza.