The High Court of South Africa, sitting in Thohoyandou Local Division has sentenced two terrorisers of the Limpopo community to a combined 315 years and three life sentences.
Shadrack Hasani Baloyi [51] received two life sentences and 240 years imprisonment. His co-accused Themba Baloyi, got a life sentence and 75 years imprisonment. This is for multiple offences which included rape, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft.
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The court heard that between 2011 and 2018, the accused persons were terrorising the communities of Xitlhelani, Road. Risinga View, Xikukwani, and Giyani section F in Limpopo.
Accused 1 [Shadrack] would enter the homestead of the complainants and rob them of their belongings, before raping some of them. The other complainants were in the bushes when they were confronted by the accused, who shot the deceased Shilenge Daniel and further raped the victim.
Both accused also robbed and raped a complainant who was in a taxi while pointing her a firearm. In another incident, both accused took care of the other complaints. The accused were linked through the DNA in all counts of rape.
TWO HEARTLESS COMMUNITY TERRORISERS
In aggravation of the sentence, the senior state Adv. Nduvheni Mulangaphuma has submitted that the crimes that the accused persons committed are very serious. They are aggravating as they infringe on the complainants’ right to privacy and dignity. Malangaphuma urged the court to impose a direct sentence of life imprisonment, due to the seriousness of the offence.
He further said that there are no substantial or compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.
