Rape accused sentenced to Life imprisonment

A 40-year-old rape accused was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Regional Court in Lephalale, Limpopo last week. The man raped a 30-year-old woman in 2018.

The trial court found that Sekurufi Abram Mogobu had on 5 May 2018 at about 23:10, accosted the victim who was walking from work to home at Extension 2 in Marapong township. He hit her with an unknown object and also threatened her with a knife.

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He then dragged her to a nearby empty house. The victim tried to scream for help but the accused threatened to kill her and then raped her. Afterwards, he robbed the woman of money and cellphone and fled the scene.

COURT SENTENCE RAPPE ACCUSED IN LEPHALALE TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

The victim was assisted by community members who called the police. A case of rape was then opened at Lephalale SAPS and later transferred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) Unit and allocated to Detective Sergeant Kwena Jan Ramahuta.

The accused was arrested in December of the same year after he was linked through the DNA. His bail application was denied and was remanded in custody until he was sentenced.

The Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe hailed the exceptional work of the Lephalale Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit particularly, the investigating officer for gathering all the evidence that led to the conviction of the accused.