Potchefstroom: The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the 25 years imprisonment sentence handed down to a 40-year-old Alfred Papas Zungu, by the Itsoseng Regional Court on Friday, 30 July 2021.

According to information presented before the court, Zungu raped a 57-year-old woman in her house in Bodibe Village on Saturday evening, 15 January 2011. That was after Zungu went to the victim’s place and knocked on the door. Upon opening the door, the victim was grabbed by the neck, overpowered and forced to her bedroom where she was raped.

In a second unrelated incident, six months later on Sunday afternoon, 3 July 2011, an 82-year-old woman was home alone in Bodibe Village when Zungu overpowered, strangled and raped her. He was seen running away from the scene by neighbours. Through assistance of members of the community, Zungu was arrested shortly after the incident.

In the last incident reported on Tuesday, 20 March 2012, a 15-year-old girl was walking in an open field at Verdwaal village when Zungu grabbed her by the neck. He assaulted her and attempted to rape her. However, the girl managed to escape the ordeal with bruises and dirty clothes.

Following intensive investigation, the accused was linked with all three cases through forensic evidence and he was found guilty on two counts of rape and one of attempted rape.

Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Itumeleng Letshoo from the Lichtenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, for a job well done.

Source: South African Police Service