NATIONAL NEWS - The long arm of the law has caught up with a 28-year-old man who has been sentenced to prison following the rape of three teenagers in Limpopo, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.
The Polokwane High Court sentenced Freddy Moraka Modibedi for the rape of three teenage girls aged between 15 and 17 on Tuesday.
The teenagers were raped in separate incidents between 3 and 17 September 2022 in Mmotong Ga-Mabotja, Mpone and Boratapelo.
The accused would meet girls unknown to him and threaten them with a knife, rob them of their properties and thereafter rape them.
These three incidents were reported to the police in Seshego and Matlala and the dockets were transferred to the Seshego Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit.
Sergeant Nation Teffo who is attached to the Seshego Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, was tasked to further investigate the cases.
Following investigations, the suspect was arrested after being on the run for almost a year and was positively linked to the cases. He appeared in the Seshego and Matlala Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in custody.
The cases were later transferred to the Polokwane High Court, wherein he was convicted and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment as follows:
• Count 1: Kidnapping – sentenced to six years imprisonment.
• Count 2: Rape – sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.
• Count 3: Robbery – sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
• Count 4: Kidnapping – sentenced to six years imprisonment.
• Count 5: Rape – sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.
• Count 7: Kidnapping – sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment.
• Count 8: Rape – sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.
The court ordered that the sentences in counts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 shall run concurrently with the sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment in count 2.
“The accused was therefore sentenced to an effective sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. It is further ordered that five years of the 30 years imprisonment shall be suspended for a period of five years, on condition that he is not convicted of any offence in contravention of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 committed during the period of suspension.”
The Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the sentences imposed against the accused.
"We appreciate efforts by the investigating officer, and everyone involved in cases until justice was served to the victims and their families," said Lieutenant- General Hadebe. – SAnews.gov.za
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
