By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Schweizer-Reneke Regional Court sentenced Fando Joel Galeboe(21) to two life-terms, ten(10) years and a further four (4) years on four counts. The sentences will run concurrently.
Galeboe who was a member of a criminal gang known as SVK in Ipelegeng in the North West pleaded guilty to all four charges.
Police reports reveal that on 02 June Galeboe met two girls aged 11 and 13 years in Ipelegeng and threatened them with a knife and a gun before taking them to a shack at a nearby informal settlement.
He then proceeded to rape them one after the other. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on each count of rape.
In a separate incident that took place on 07 January 2021 in Ipelegeng, Galeboe accompanied by his gang members, met a female(19) who was in the company of some male friends.
His gang members chased away the male friends while he was trying to speak to the lady, who at the time was refusing to converse with him.
He then forcefully dragged her to a nearby yard and raped her. The court sentenced him to ten(10) years for this crime.
According to Henry Mamothame,
NPA Spokesperson, on the fourth count of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, Galeboe met a female in her mid forties on the street in Ipelegeng and insisted on walking with her but she refused.
“He then tried to take her by force threatening her with a knife and the victim fought back. He eventually stabbed her several times before fleeing the scene. He was sentenced to four(4) year’s imprisonment for this offence.
“All four victims laid charges against Galeboe and he was eventually arrested in 2018. His bail application was also denied,” said Mamothame.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Mpho Sephapo argued that all the victims were vulnerable members of society and that Galeboe used his masculinity to violate them.
Sephapo urged the court not to deviate from the minimum sentence as the crimes committed were of a serious nature.
The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari-Sekhaolelo welcomed the conviction and sentence.
She expressed how this conviction will strengthen the advocacy in the fight against the abuse of women and children.
