POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the hefty sentences handed down by the Lephalale Regional Court this week to a 47-year old rapist, convicted of raping three minor girls aged between 12 and 15 at Tom-Burke Policing area outside Lephalale.

The trial court heard that the rape ordeal started on 10 November 2018 at the accused’s RDP house after he called the three girls to his house to cook for him. The accused instructed two of the girls to cook for him while he raped the other in the bedroom. He continued to rape the other victims on different days using the same modus operandi until one of the victim’s educator noticed her strange behaviour and questioned her.

The victim then revealed the whole ordeal to the educator who informed the victim’s parents and the matter was immediately reported to the Tom-Burke Police. The cases of rape were opened and transferred to the Lephalale Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for further investigation. Detective Sergeant Kwena Ramahuta was assigned to investigate the cases and the accused was tracked down and arrested the following month on 17 December 2018.

The accused made numerous court appearances in the Phalala Magistrate’s Court where the investigating officer successfully opposed bail until he was convicted and ultimately sentenced at the Lephalale Regional Court on Thursday 10 November 2022.

The sentences were passed as follows: 

* Count 1 – life imprisonment for rape

* Count 2 – 3 years imprisonment for sexual assault

* Count 3 – 7 years imprisonment for statutory rape 

“I would like to applaud everyone who played a significant role in ensuring that the perpetrator is permanently removed from society for his horrendous acts,” said Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.

Source: South African Police Service