By Agreement Mabunda
POLOKWANE: A 29-year-old male charged with a series of house robberies and murder incidents that took place in Mankweng during the 2021 and 2022 period was handed a lengthy jail term by the Polokwane High Court on Tuesday 16 October 2023.
The convict, Stephen Botabota was condemned by the Court to serve 85 years of incarceration in connection with five robberies, one housebreaking and murder incidents that were committed during the said period.
The Court heard that the accused was targeting the local students of the University of Limpopo at the rented residences outside the campus. The victims were threatened with a firearm before being robbed of their laptops and cell phones.
On 17 April 2021, the accused attacked a 37-year-old male who was coming from work hit him with a stone on the forehead and collapsed.
The victim was transported to Mankweng Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries while under medical treatment.
The accused managed to evade an arrest by the Police during his reign of terror until his apprehension earlier this year in April and was never granted bail until his sentencing on Monday 16 October 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe was pleased with the sterling work that was done by Sergeant Samuel Malemela in ensuring that this ruthless perpetrator is permanently removed from the community.
