THERE was no leniency for five convicted farm attackers in the Pongola Regional Court this week.
The court handed down four life terms plus 225 years for rape, robbery and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
The crimes occurred between December 2014 and March 2015 when numerous farms in the Pongola and Magudu areas came under attack from the armed gang.
The group would gain entry onto the farms, rob the owners of their valuables, including firearms, and rape the women.
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Cases were opened at both Pongola and Magudu police stations and a task team was formed to investigate.
After receiving intelligence of a planned attack, task team investigators proceeded to the area and found the criminals hiding in the bushes.
They were arrested and some, including a woman, were found in possession of firearms.
Wandile Gabriel Dlamini (25) was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape plus 70 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
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Mlungisi Thabathu Mathenjwa (21) and Phumlani Sotsha Mdluli (28) were each sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, plus 45 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Ntokozo Prince Mthethwa (23) was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, plus 30 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and a further 15 years for possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The fifth accused, Khethiwe Gugu Gumbi (34) was sentenced to 20 years for the illegal possession of a firearm.
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