The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the life term imprisonment and additional 30 years in connection with two rapes and robbery handed to a 37 year-old male, Sydney Maluleke by the Lulekani Regional court on Tuesday 12 March 2024.
The accused reign of terror commenced on 24 December 2013 when he raped and robbed a 24 year-old woman who was with her boyfriend and a friend at Noordia’s place in Majeje village under Namakgale policing area.
The trio were walking when they met the accused who insulted and produced a knife. Sydney started fighting with them and the two men ran away leaving the victim behind.
The accused dragged the victim to the bushes and raped her at knife point. Afterwards, the accused robbed the victim her cellphone and fled the scene.
The victim managed to walk home and was taken to the police station and a rape case was opened against the suspect who was unknown at the time of the incident and never arrested.
The accused continued with his heinous behavior and raped a 27 year-old woman on 06 November 2018 at about 22:00 in Majeje village. The victim was talking on a cellphone when the suspect forced her to leave with him, but she refused. The accused forcefully dragged the victim and one male tried to rescue the victim but he took a broken bottle with the intention to stab him and he ran away.
Afterwards, Sydney took the victim to the river valley and she was hit on the mouth and head with a stone and repeatedly raped before fleeing the scene.
A rape case was opened at Namakgale SAPS and led to the accused who was 32 years old during his apprehension on 22 November 2018 while hiding in Majeje village.
The matter was transferred to Phalaborwa Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) and Sergeant Khazamula Mhlongo was assigned for further investigations.
Through intensive investigations, Sergeant Mhlongo managed to positively link the accused with Forensic DNA analysis with another rape case that occurred on 24 December 2013.
The Lulekani Regional court on Tuesday 12 March 2024 found the accused quilty on three counts as follows:
Count 1: robbery – 15 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
Count 2: rape – 15 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
Count 3: – rape – life imprisonment.
The sentences are said to run concurrently.
“I appreciate the sterling work that was displayed by the Lulekani Regional court for handing a harsh punishment to the accused who preyed on defenseless victims,” said the General.
