TZANEEN – A 46-year-old man, Rady Bayiza Makhubele of Shongani village outside the Tzaneen town was yesterday convicted and sentenced to two life imprisonment by the Nkownkowa Regional Court for rape, five years for assault, and three years for child pornography.
The court heard that on the 19th of September 2018, at Shongani village, the accused, Makhubele requested three minors aged 12 and 14 to accompany him to his homestead. On their arrival, he forced them to watch pornographic movies, sexually assaulted them and raped one of them. The victims returned to his homestead again on the next day, and he raped the same 14-year-old victim for the second time.
The 14-year old victim reported the matter to her mother on the 8th of October 2018, and a rape case was opened.
The victim was taken to the nearest hospital for medical attention, and it was confirmed that she was raped.
The rape docket was transferred to the Tzaneen FCS and assigned to Sergeant Sharon Phumuzo Mabongo who investigated it intensively.
Through her investigative skills she managed to trace the accused and arrested him at Shongani village on 17 October 2018. The investigation also established that the accused was on parole for another rape case committed in the Gauteng province.
- On Count 1 and 2 of rape, he was sentenced to two life sentences.
- On count 3, of Child Pornography, he was sentenced to a 3 year imprisonment.
- On count 4, a sexual assault case, he was sentenced to a 5 year imprisonment.
The court ordered that count 3 and 4 go concurrently with the two counts of rape.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the sentence and commended the investigating officer, Sergeant Sharon Phumuzo Mabogo, and her team for working tirelessly in ensuring the victims of gender-based violence receive the justice they deserve.
