A BOGUS FACEBOOK JOB RECRUITER AND SERIAL RAPIST SENTENCED TO 70 YEARS DIRECT IMPRISONMENT
Polokwane, South Africa- The Limpopo Polokwane High Court has sentenced, Mathatha Gift Phelane (28) from Ga-Podile, Tubatse District, to 70 years imprisonment for seven counts of rape, 30 years imprisonment for six counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and 15 years imprisonment for three counts of kidnapping, the effective sentence to be served is 70 years direct imprisonment.
The accused pleaded not guilty, and the state led evidence of the witnesses. During the trial, witnesses testified that between 2020 and 2021, the accused was terrorising young women from communities of: Ga Mphethi, Ga-Manyaka, Ga-Selala, Ga-Maroga and Mafolo Park. Young women were lured under the pretence that they are going to get jobs. The accused would then threaten them with a knife or a gun demanding their cellphones and monies and subsequently raped them. After the ordeal, he would leave them destitute and confused in the bushes. The accused was identified through a picture that one of the victims took of him while he was luring her into the bushes, and that led to his arrest.
Upon further investigations, the accused’s DNA was linked to various other rape offence within the area.
In aggravating the sentence, the state Advocate Muneiwa Ratshibvumo informed the court that the accused showed no remorse for his actions and continously misled the court by stating that all the victims were his girlfriends. She further stated that his action has ruined the lives of these victims and some are even suffering from suicidal thoughts and severe depression, the accused preyed on the vulnerability and desperation of these young women.
The Acting Judge Ephraim Makgoba remarked that the accused person was a calculative conman who violated the dignity and bodily integrity of those women and further said that the sentence imposed will ensure safety of women in the community.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Ivy Thenga is pleased to witness the victims of Gender-Based-Violence receive justice and their dignity being restored. The DPP further applauded advocate Ratshibvumo and investigating officer, Sergeant Jacob Letsatsi Mojalefa from Family Violence and Sexual Offence Unit of Burgersfort, for the good work done.
