POLOKWANE – The Regional Court in Mahwelereng outside Mokopane have handed a life sentence direct imprisonment to a 30-year-old Selekenyane Tumelo Marakala on Tuesday, 29 November 2022.

The court heard that on Sunday 9 June 2019, the accused Tumelo from Moshate, Maroteng village met the victim a 19-year-old woman from Ga-Madiba on the way from a Tavern at about 23:10 he grabbed the victim from the back and took her to his house and raped the victim over the night.

The accused covered his face with a balaclava, he strangled the victim and he voluntarily let the victim to go in the following morning.

The accused took off the balaclava and introduced himself to the victim as a member of a dangerous gang called “Bokoharam” and threatened her not to report him and ultimately the victim went to the Police Station to report the incident.

The accused was arrested within a short space of time on Wednesday 12 June 2019 by members of the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

The accused has remained in custody ever since he was arrested until the final appearance of the trial.

The case was successfully investigated and conviction was secured by Sergeant Ramolokwane Leshaba.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has gladly welcomed the conviction and subsequent Sentencing.

Source: South African Police Service