The Groblersdal Regional Court has delivered a life imprisonment sentence to a 35-year-old male accused of brutally assaulting and raping a 90-year-old woman.
The incident occurred on July 31, 2022, when the accused broke into the elderly woman’s house in Elandskraal. Upon entering her bedroom, he discovered a panga and used it to assault her before raping her and fleeing the scene with the weapon.
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The local authorities were promptly alerted, and cases of rape and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm were opened. The victim was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Mokopane Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit, where Sergeant Lesetja Langa took charge of the investigation.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of Sergeant Langa and his team, the suspect was successfully traced and apprehended. The police also recovered the blood-stained panga, which was used in the assault.
The accused, Ephraim Matshela Madiba, was convicted of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment, as well as 24 months for Assault GBH. Both sentences will be served concurrently.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, commended Sergeant Langa and his team for their commitment to removing perpetrators from society and ensuring that justice is served. “We welcome the life sentence and are pleased that justice has been served,” concluded Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
