Polokwane High Court imposes hefty sentences on two rapists, robbers
Meanwhile, three men were sentenced to an effective 24 years' imprisonment each by the Thohoyandou High Court.
POLOKWANE – Five men, between the ages of 26 and 38, who committed crimes in the Motetema and Levubu policing areas respectively, have been sentenced.
The men appeared in the Polokwane and Thohoyandou High Courts recently, for cases ranging from rape, murder, business robbery to house robbery, according to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
Tshepo Moses Moganedisa (27):
Moganedisa was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rape and rape. “He raped an elderly woman (70) while she was sleeping in her house on 26 January 2018 at about 03:30, at Makaepeya section in Tafelkop village. The accused intruded into the house, threatened the victim with a knife and raped her before he jumped through the window and fled the scene,” Ngoepe explained.
In another incident that took place in the early hours of 6 February 2019 at about 03:00, he entered another house through the window. “The victim realised someone wearing a balaclava, was inside the house and he threatened to kill her if she screamed. He raped her before he fled the scene,” Ngoepe said.
Macdonald Lunga Sebanyoni (26):
Moganedisa and Sebanyoni attacked two elderly people, aged 61 and 67, in separate incidents on Friday, 7 June 2019. “The accused went to the victims’ house at Majakaneng village, attacked an old woman and demanded money from her. Her brother (61) tried to rescue her but the accused stabbed him several times to death with a knife. The woman managed to escape and screamed for help, but the accused fled the scene. The deceased was identified as Thifos Titus Thamage,” Ngoepe added.
They appeared in the Polokwane High Court and were sentenced as follows:
- Sebanyoni: 30 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob and murder.
- Maganedisa: 38 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rape, rape, robbery, housebreaking with intent to rob, assault GBH and for murder. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Sonti Maxwell Ntatamala (35), Itani Master Magwaba (34) and Gezani Maswanganyi (38):
The trio appeared in the Thohoyandou High Court and were sentenced to an effective 24 years’ imprisonment each, for business robberies, house robberies and possession of unlicensed firearms, which occurred in the area during 2015.
“The incidents occurred on separate occasions when the accused robbed victims of money, firearms and airtime. The trio intruded into a farm house at Schoeman Farm in the Levubu area in August 2015. They pointed the victim, aged 70, with firearms, demanded safe keys and stole cash, ammunition and other items and fled the scene,” Ngoepe explained.
The sentences have been welcomed by the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba, who praised the investigating officers for their hard work and in ensuring that these criminals are removed from our communities.
