The High Court sitting in Delmas sentenced Smanga Goodwill Gwebu (37) of Vosman to 12 life sentences and an additional 194 years imprisonment.
Gwebu was convicted on multiple counts of rape, housebreaking, contravening of section 21(2) of the Sexual Offences Act, robbery with aggravating circumstances and pointing of a firearm.
He started his terror of frightening people of Vosman from 2004 to 2014 where he would break into the victim’s houses at night, threaten them with a knife or at gun point and rape them in front of their families.
He would sometimes rob them of their belongings like cell phones and cash with his face covered with a balaclava.
Gwebu robbed one of his victims of her cell phone and gave it to his girlfriend; the victim reported the matter.
During the police investigation, the same cellular phone was found in the girlfriend’s possession and the accused was arrested.
DNA samples were taken and Gwebu was positively linked with other crimes.
Gwebu was convicted on 12 counts of rape, six counts of housebreaking, and six counts of contravention of section 21(2) of the Sexual Offences Act, eight counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and five counts of pointing of a firearm.
The NPA applauds the good work done by the team and hopes that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to sexual offenders and address the scourge of sexual violence in our society.
