137 years for rape, robbery, assault duo
CRAIGHALL PARK – Parkview police were well-satisfied after two accused were handed a total of 137 years' imprisonment after they raped, robbed and assaulted residents of a Craighall Park household.
Tladi Lebea and Daniel Mahlangu were sentenced to a combined 137 years at the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court after they were found guilty of housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, rape, sexual assault, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and theft of a motor vehicle.
Police said in November 2009, four suspects broke into a residential property on Buckingham Avenue. “They then entered the servants’ quarters where there were four victims,” said police spokesperson Sergeant Lloyd Ramovha. “They pointed firearms at them and threatened to kill them if they didn’t co-operate. They ordered them to lie face down, tied them up and gagged them.”
The suspects demanded cash and valuables and assaulted the victims with a wheel spanner. Two of the suspects proceeded into the main house where they awoke the 68-year-old homeowner, and at gunpoint they demanded cash and jewellery.
Police said the homeowner gave them what she could find, however the suspects went on to ransack the house and assaulted her with a gun. “One of the suspects even sexually assaulted her and attempted to kill her by strangulation,” said Ramovha.
Back at the servants’ quarters, the 29-year-old domestic worker had been isolated from her three male family members. The suspects allegedly put her in a different room and took turns in repeatedly raping her.
After the atrocious ordeal which lasted about five hours, the suspects then left the house with their loot and took the homeowner’s vehicle with them. Parkview police were called to the scene after the homeowner managed to free herself.
After investigations by investigation officer, Warrant Officer Kenneth Mabaso, the suspects were arrested between March and November 2010.
Lebea was sentenced to 15 years for housebreaking with intent to commit robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances, two 25 year terms for rape, 16 years for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on all five victims, for a total of 81 years’ imprisonment.
Mahlangu was sentenced to 15 years for housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances, 25 years for rape and 16 years for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on all five victims.
“As Parkview police we shall endeavour to play our part in fighting the scourge of crime and continue to bring the perpetrators to book,” added Ramovha.
