By Staff Reporter
SHOTONG – A 32-year-old man, Phetole Innocent Rangwato to life imprisonment for rape and eight years imprisonment for attempted murder at Tzaneen Regional Court on Friday, 22 November 2024.
This follows an incident that took place in 2017 at Shotong under Bolobedu policing precinct.
During the trial court, it was heard that on 16 April 2017 at about 03:00, a 21-year-old woman from Shotong village was at a local eating house with friends when she decided to leave the place and hitchhiked a blue Toyota Amanda.
She alerted the driver that he should drop her off near a local clinic. The driver agreed but informed her that he would drop his friend first.
When they arrived at the clinic, the accused stopped the vehicle and took out the hammer and struck the woman on the forehead, and raped her inside the vehicle.
The accused thereafter dumped the unconscious woman on the side of the road. The victim was only discovered in the morning by a passer-by with severe injuries.
Following a meticulous investigation by Detective Sergeant Nyiko Shipalana, the suspect was identified and arrested.
The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the conviction and subsequent sentencing, further praised the investigating officer and all other role players for the diligent work
