GQEBERHA – No mercy should be spared to perpetrators who commit crimes against women and children and such criminals should receive the maximum punishment for inflicting pain, anger, suffering and in many cases death on their victims and their families.

Police detectives from the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Gqeberha and SAPS Bethelsdorp succeeded in securing life sentences for their separate cases.

Khulile Mbobela (27) from Motherwell was served with three life sentences for rape, yesterday 28 February 2022 in the Gqeberha High court. On 4 March 2020, the two victims, aged 19 and 22 years old were walking in central Gqeberha when they were approached by the accused who forced them  at knife point to walk with him. He demanded money from both women and when they said that they had no money, he raped them twice in an open field.

He was arrested on 5 March 2020 by FCS detectives who were searching for the accused. He was spotted in central by one of the victims who was with police at the time. He was charged for rape, kidnapping and attempted robbery. He appeared in court and was released on R2 000-00 bail. He was found guilty on Friday, 25 February 2022 and was remanded in custody until his sentencing on 28 February 2022.

On 28 February 2022, he was sentenced as follows:

3 x rape – life sentence on each count.

Rape – 20 years imprisonment

Attempted robbery – 3 years imprisonment

Kidnapping x 2 – 5 years combined sentence

All the sentences will run concurrent to the life sentence.

In another separate sentencing, Andrew George (31) was convicted and sentenced in the Gqeberha Regional court to life imprisonment for the murder of Melissa Marlouw (30) and an additional 10 years for raping her.

On 22 August 2020, at about 03:00, George was walking Ms Marlouw home in Independence Road in Kleinskool after they were drinking with friends. She was hit over the head with a stone and thereafter raped and stabbed in the neck. On Tuesday, 1 September 2020 he was arrested by SAPS Bethelsdorp detectives at a relative’s house in Uitenhage.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene has welcomed the harsh sentences imposed on the two remorseless criminals. ‘One victim raped or killed, is one too many.  Women are hurt, raped and murdered by the people they know and trust as well as by strangers who want to exercise control over them.  Sentences such as this sends out a strong message that the SAPS and the prosecuting authorities are serious in crushing Gender Based Violence. I congratulate the investigating teams in both cases for ensuring justice for the victims and their families,’ added Lt Gen Mene.

Source: South African Police Service