POLOKWANE – A 33-year-old man convicted on several charges of rape was handed a heavy sentence by the Mankweng Regional Court yesterday (Friday).
Sylvester Nomafela targeted several off-campus students from the University of Limpopo, Mankweng in 2012. “On several occasions he entered the victims rooms and raped them before robbing them,” said Police spokesperson, Motlafela Mojapelo.
He explained that in January 18, 2012 he raped and robbed a 20-year-old student. On 2 February 2012 he raped another two woman. At around 22:30 he raped the first victim, a 19-year-old victim, thereafter entering another room and raped the second 20-year-old victim at around 23:30. On 23 February 2102 at about 00:12 he raped the fourth victim a 18-year-old student.
“This was a reign of terror that afflicted the Mankweng area and was only ended through the sterling investigative work conducted by the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit (FCS) and subsequent conviction,” said Mojapelo.
The accused was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for three of the rape cases‚ life imprisonment for a fourth rape and five years imprisonment for robbery.
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba commended the detectives involved for their sterling investigative work that led to these heavy sentences. He also thanked members of the community for assisting the police with valuable information.
Earlier this year the Provincial Crime Intelligence Coordinating Team and the Mankweng Detectives conducted crime intelligence led operation that led to the arrest of two suspects who were also targeting the off-campus students in Mankweng. “They will appear again on 28 April in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court,” said Mojapelo.
