The Regional Court in Tzaneen seating yesterday on Tuesday 27 June 2023 sentenced Mohlala E Kgatla (31) , to life imprisonment for rape and additional fifteen (15) years for robbery with aggravating circumstances including a four (04) year jail term for housebreaking with the intent to commit an offence. The latter sentences will run concurrently with the life imprisonment.
Kgatla’s conviction and subsequent sentencing emanated from an incident that occurred on 07 December 2019 at about 01:00 when the accused committed housebreaking, robbery and raped an 83 year-old woman at Phaphadi village.
The victim was sleeping alone in the bedroom when the accused forcefully opened a window and gained entry into the house. According to police report, Kgatla went straight to her bedroom and started to strangle the victim and was subsequently raped her.
After the ordeal, the accused demanded money from the victim while threatening to kill her with the hammer if she does not give him the money. The elderly woman took out a wallet with an amount of R600.00 and gave it to him before fleeing the crime scene.
The fortunate thing is that, the victim managed to identify the suspect as Mohlala Elvis Kgatla who was 27 years old during the commission of the crime and immediately went to her neighbour to inform them about the incident and the matter was reported to the Bolobedu Police Station.
The suspect at the time managed to evade an arrest and departed from the village until he returned back from his hiding in the beginning of April 2021 period. Police were notified about his location and was traced and arrested on the 24 April 2021.
The matter was transferred to Tzaneen SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) and handed to Sergeant Glenda Mathebula for further investigations and successfully managed to oppose bail.
The accused remained in police custody until he was convicted and sentenced by the Tzaneen Regional Court on Tuesday 27 June 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe applauded the work by the Investigating Officer Sergeant Glenda Mathebula as well as the collaborative efforts between all role players that resulted in the Court outcome.
