MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE PLUS 232 YEARS
Limpopo, South Africa – The Thohoyandou High Court, sitting in Watervaal, has sentenced Tsireledzo Makhadi (35), from Ha-Magidi Sibasa to life imprisonment and additional 232 years term in prison for multiple charges including gang rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, house robbery, housebreaking with intent to commit robbery, housebreaking with intent to steal, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, malicious injury to property and theft out of the motor vehicle. The court further ordered that the 232 years of imprisonment should run concurrently with the sentence of life imprisonment.
The accused pleaded not guilty during the trial and the state-led witnesses. They testified that between July 2015 and August 2016, the accused, and his accomplice, Khumbelo Buku Tshisudzungwane who has since been sentenced in 2022, had terrorised the communities of Makwarela, Ha-Magidi Sibasa and Thohoyandou Block G. They entered into the homesteads of the victims and threatened them with a craw bar and pangas while attempting to rape them. They robbed the victims of valuable items like motor vehicles, bags, unknown amounts of money, and cellphones. In another incident, the victim was raped several times and left destitute in an area unknown to her, and others were driven around in their cars at night.
When aggravating the sentence, the State Advocate Nnyambeni Nekhambele, submitted that the accused and his accomplice acted in furtherance of a common purpose, terrorising communities within these neighbouring locations. He further submitted that the accused should be removed permanently from the community. He concluded by saying that there are no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying departure from the prescribed minimum sentence.
The NPA welcomes the sentence, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Adv. Ivy Thenga expressed hope that this ruling will serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders. The DPP further commended the good work done by Advocate Nekhambele and all stakeholders involved in achieving this outcome.
