The court heard how the accused subjected women to horrific violence. He is said to have been operating in the Sabie area where he preyed on his victims aged between 15 and 51, in May and June of 2018.
In these operations, the man raped defenceless women and children armed with a knife. Seven cases of rape were registered against him with the police. After the increasing outcry against the mounting number of rape cases in the area, the police conducted investigations and launched an intensive search for the suspect.
READ: Rape accused granted bail
During these investigations, they discovered that the suspect would normally drag his victims from the streets and take them to a nearby bush against their will, where he raped them. He blindfolded his victims with a cloth and instructed them not to look at him. He would also make sure he had his face covered with a balaclava throughout the whole ordeal.
In February 2019, the police made a breakthrough in their investigations when they found and arrested him. The matter went to court where he was finally sentenced on February 12 this year, for seven cases of rape.
His sentencing was as follows:
On the count of raping minors, the accused was sentenced to two life sentences; on the other five counts of rape, he received 15 years in prison for each count, these adding up to 75 years’ imprisonment.
READ: Alleged serial murderer to appear in court
The court has ordered that for the purpose of these sentences, the 75-year jail term will run concurrently with the two life sentences, and the accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. Furthermore, his name will be entered into the register of sexual offenders.
The provincial commissioner of SAPS, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, was elated about this hefty sentence imposed on the man. He has also applauded the sterling work done by the team of detectives, the prosecution team and the judiciary.
“Our efforts in the fight against criminal acts committed to women and children are surely yielding positive results. We are hopeful that this sentence will reassure women in the society of our endeavors to harshly deal with violence perpetuated by evil men who disregard women and treat them as objects to be punished.”
