By Staff Reporter
POLOKWANE-The Regional Court Mankweng-sentenced Tshepang Sydwell Baholo (37) from Nobody to 30 years imprisonment for two counts of rape, 36 years imprisonment on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and 10 years imprisonment on two counts of kidnapping.
The court further sentenced his companion, Andrew Mongalo (29) from Polokwane to 15 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five (5) years imprisonment for kidnapping.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty, and the state-led evidence of the witnesses, the court heard that between April and October 2016, the first complainant hitch-hiked a sedan motor vehicle from Ga-Maboi to Polokwane, and it was occupied by the two accused.
The vehicle drove to a certain area, where it stopped and they took her cash amount of R380.00, cellphone and bank cards, one of the accused tried to withdraw money, however, the cards did not have money.
They then tied her hands and feet before Tshepang raped her, and they further told her that they will burn her with petrol as she did not have money
. She was rescued by a man who was hunting with his dogs. The second complainant was at a bus stop when the sedan motor vehicle offered her a lift. Tshepang produced a firearm and took her to the bushes and tied her hands and feet before raping her. He further filled his car with R200.00 petrol using her bank card and then took her cellphone and cash amount of R450.00 before leaving the scene.
During the trial, the state also handed in the J88 report to corroborate the evidence of the doctor about the injuries both complainants sustained throughout the ordeal and the DNA results were handed in to prove that it was accused 1 (Tshepang) who raped both the complainant. The state further called three witnesses as well as the members of the forensic science laboratory who worked on the analysis of the DNA samples about the case.
In aggravation of sentence, state Prosecutor Matibidi Malatji indicated that rape is humiliating, degrading and a brutal invasion of privacy and dignity of women and as we celebrate women’s month, the court should send a clear message to the accused and other potential rapists that we are determined to protect the equality, dignity and freedom of all women and we shall show no mercy to those who seek to invade those rights.
The presiding officer, Mr SJ Reynolds remarked that aggravating circumstances are present in abundance in this case, and it includes the fact that the complainants were threatened to be killed, one by firearm and the other by being burned alive while being tied by a wire to a tree. Both complainants were stripped of their dignity, treated as less than human, and probably left with mental and emotional scars for life, and the accused showed no sign of remorse.
The NPA welcomes the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Ivy Thenga is against the violence of women and children. The DPP further commended the good work done by Mr Malatji and the investigating officer, sergeant Shilabjwe from the Family Violence and Sexual Offence Unit in Polokwane.
