During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Picture: iStock
A 30-year-old serial rapist has been sentenced to 57 years imprisonment for attempted rape, three counts of rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances and housebreaking.
Lucky Mashatola from Kgapane Sethone village appeared in the Polokwane High Court in Limpopo on Tuesday where he was convicted and sentenced.
During the trial, Mashatola pleaded not guilty to the charges.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the court heard specific details of Mashatola’s crimes.
“Between February 2018 and December 2021, Mashatola threatened two victims with a knife and demanded to have sexual intercourse with them. The other victim was sleeping alone in her house when the accused broke in and raped her. He further took the cellphone of the other victim.”
Dzhangi said in aggravation of the sentence, the state advocate, Sewela Rangwato, submitted that rape does not only “violate the victim’s privacy and personal integrity, it also leaves a serious psychological and physical impact”.
“She further said that women should walk freely on the streets, and do their shopping without fear of being victimised.
“The prosecutor further said that there are no substantial or compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.”
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In sentencing, Judge George Phatudi remarked that the accused lacked remorse, the victims’ right of movement was violated and the accused used objects to threaten them.
The court also said that women and children are raped and killed every day in the country and that should come to an end and further ordered the sentence to run concurrently.
Dzhangi said the NPA is satisfied with the sentence that was handed down to Mashatola.
“The NPA welcomes the sentence and applauds the good work done by Advocate Rangwato and investigating officer Sergeant Mike Motalane of Serial and Electronic Crimes Investigation.
Meanwhile, an Eastern Cape man has been sentenced to three life sentences and 280 years for raping teenage girls and women by luring them through his Facebook page from 2019 to 2020.
Khululekani Justin Ngqeza’s (30) was sentenced on Monday at the Makhanda High Court.
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