Rape and Murder accused, Mpho Godfrey Nemoghovhani aged 40, was found guilty and sentenced to two life imprisonment by Polokwane High Court, on 03 7June 2022.

His sentencing comes after an incident that occurred on 27 June 2009, where the suspect was offered a place to sleep by the victim's mother at her house in Khopo village.

The victim's mother left her daughter aged 11 with the accused who was her colleague sleeping in separate rooms, during the same night at about 21h30 the suspect noticed that the mother was not at home. He then raped the girl and strangled her to death.

The Police were notified and initial investigations ensued,subsequently pointed out at the suspect who was arrested on the 29 June 2009. The case was assigned to Sergeant Nkhensani Laura Sithole of Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

Meanwhile, a rape suspect Fanyane Piet Mokhawane aged 21, was found guilty and sentenced to twenty (20) years imprisonment by the Polokwane High Court, on 30 May 2022 for rape cases that occurred at Maake policing area during 2019.

The accused utilised the same modus operandi on some of his victims, he targeted women whom were fetching wood in the bushes. He would threaten them with a knife and rape them. In another incident he broke into a certain house in Maake policing area and raped a woman aged 43.

Rape cases were reported at the police station, and were assigned to Warrant Officer Mailula Mack Motalane, investigating officer of Tzaneen FCS Sgt Nkhensani Laura Sithole and Sergeant Ngwako Calvin Kgatle attached at Provincial Serial and Electronics Crimes Investigations.

Following investigations, a 21-year-old accused was positively linked to all the cases and was arrested.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe appreciated the investigating officers for working tirelessly at the cases until the perpetrators were arrested.

Source: South African Police Service