Sinja Mabitsela, the second of the two-men serial rapists dubbed the balaclava gang who terrorised Alex residents for years, was sentenced to 32 life terms with an additional 270 years after he had pleaded guilty at the South Gauteng High Court.
This after his co-accused Josias Mkansi, was earlier sentenced to 14 life sentences and 185 years for rape, robbery and kidnapping committed by the two over a six-year reign of terror which started in 2009 until their arrest a year apart. They evaded arrested aided by balaclavas which concealed their identities during the commission of the crimes.
Read: 14 life sentences for Alex balaclava rapist
Mabitsela admitted to 23 counts of rape, five of compelled rape, 17 of robbery with aggravating circumstances and two of kidnapping which left victims traumatised and the community fearful for years.
When passing sentence, Judge Carla van Veenendaal also took into account impact statements of the victims, including from male survivors who were robbed and forced at gunpoint to rape their female companions, the effects of the crimes in their failed relationships and low self-esteem which ruined their lives.
Read: Women and Men Against Child Abuse calls for life in jail for Balaclava Rapists
Miranda Jordan-Friedman of the non-profit organisation, Women and Men Against Child Abuse which supported the victims, lauded the combined 46 life sentences and additional 425 years passed on the two. “It sends a strong message to other possible perpetrators that no acts of abuse will be tolerated.”
The two men were eventually arrested through victims’ stolen phones found in their possession, a tip-off from the public and DNA evidence. The cases were transferred from the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to the South Gauteng High Court due to their severity.
