By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Molopo Regional Court has sentenced Kabelo Motlangoane (30) to two-life imprisonment on two counts of rape, two years for housebreaking with intent to steal and a further twelve months for theft.
On the night of 18 February 2015, Motlangoane reportedly entered the home of a female victim in Setlagole when she was away.
He apparently did it with the intention to steal her possessions.
According to Henry Mamothame,
NPA spokesperson (Northwest Division) the culprit, then returned to the same house the next night and found a 39-year-old woman whom he raped before fleeing the scene.
Mamothame says that among the items that Motlangoane fled with was a TV set, blanket, CD, two speakers, a man’s suit, a recorder and house keys.
“In a separate incident that took place in the same area of Setlagole on 27 February 2015, Motlangoane broke into a home of a 26-year-old woman then strangled and hit her with an unknown object before raping her.
“He was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape,” said Mamothame.
According to Mamothame, the two incidents were reported to the police and a manhunt resulted in his arrest on 26 June 2015. He was denied bail by the court and held in custody until sentencing.
In aggravation of a maximum sentence, Advocate Nangamso Goloda argued that people cannot live in a society where women are driven to the periphery and relegated to second class citizens as a result of rapists.
He also maintained that Motlangoane deserved no less than a life sentence.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari – Sekhaolelo has welcomed this conviction.
She believes that sentencing would send a powerful message to those who might want to commit similar offenses.
