JUSTICE SERVED: 33-YEAR-OLD RAPE ACCUSED SENTENCED TO THREE LIFE TERMS*
POLOKWANE – The Phalaborwa Regional Court has delivered a decisive verdict, sentencing 33-year-old Chris Ramahlo to three consecutive life imprisonments for his abhorrent crimes of rape against three victims in the Namakgale policing area.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that on the early morning of Sunday, 21 December 2014, a victim and her friend accepted a ride from an unknown driver at Phalaborwa Impala Stadium to Makhushane village.
Upon reaching a local pub, the victim requested a jersey, and the accused who was a passenger, offered to give one from a friend who is staying nearby. While the driver and the victim’s friend went into the pub, the accused and the victim proceeded to fetch the supposed jersey.
Tragically, en route, the accused brandished a knife, subjected the victim to a harrowing ordeal of assault, and callously committed the heinous act of rape before making his escape. The victim bravely returned to the pub and disclosed the traumatic incident to her friend, who promptly reported the crime to law enforcement.
Further investigations led by Sergeant Khazamula Mhlongo of the Phalaborwa Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit uncovered another appalling case involving the accused and his accomplice, where they callously gang-raped two minors following a marathon event in July 2023. His accomplice was never arrested, and measures to arrest him are still in progress.
The accused, Chris Ramahlo (33), has been sentenced to three concurrent life imprisonments for committing three counts of rape against minor girls.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo SAPS, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has expressed satisfaction with the sentences handed down to the accused. She commended the investigating officer and all stakeholders involved in these cases for their dedication and commitment.
