By Staff Reporter
THOHOYANDOU- A man facing 31 counts, ranging from gang rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, house robberies, housebreaking with intent to commit robbery, housebreaking with intent to steal, robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious damage to property and theft has been sentenced to life imprisonment plus 75 years.
Khumbelo Buku Tshisudzungwane (23), of Ha-Magidi and his accomplice, were terrorizing the communities of Makwarela, Mbaleni, Ha Magidi, and Thohoyandou Block G location between July 2015 and August 2015.
They would enter the homesteads of the victims and threaten them with a crowbar and pangas, before robbing them of their motor vehicles, bags, monies, cellphones, and other valuable items.
One of the victims was raped several times and abandoned in the bushes, the accused also attempted to rape other victims. They would put the victims inside their cars while driving around the locations and bushes during the night.
The state evidence was overwhelming, and the court found him guilty as charged. Khumbelo didn’t deny it but pleaded guilty and admitted all elements of the offences.
During aggravating of the sentence, the state Advocate Robert Nekhambele submitted that the accused acted in common purpose to terrorise his neighbouring locations. He is a cruel young man who targeted women who were staying with minor children.
Nekhambele, pleaded with the court to remove permanently the accused as he is heartless and arrogant.
Judge Legodi Phatudi, said that the complainants were indeed violated, and the offence will never be erased. The court further sentenced khumbelo to life imprisonment and sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
The NPA welcomes the sentence and hopes the offenders would learn from this sentence.
