Thapelo Malatji (45) has been sentenced to two life terms in prison by the Protea Regional Court for a series of crimes committed in Dobsonville since 2011.
Malatji’s modus operandi involved robbing victims at gunpoint, then taking them to a secluded area where he repeatedly raped them. One victim was robbed of a laptop, R6000 in cash, a cellphone, a handbag, bank cards and shoes, in addition to being assaulted.
The accused was initially apprehended in the North West Province on charges of theft and further investigation by Sargeant Twala revealed a connection to a string of cases in Soweto. As a result, the accused was subsequently taken into custody on 31 July 2020 in the Soweto case.
Malatji faced a range of charges. He received a 30-year sentence for two counts of aggravated robbery. Additionally, he was given a double life sentence for two counts of rape, furthermore, he was sentenced to an additional 30 years imprisonment for two counts of kidnapping.
The prosecutor, Thapelo Mohapi presented arguments highlighting the disturbing prevalence of sexual assaults and aggravated offences involving firearms in the country. He contended that the accused’s method of committing these crimes demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life and safety, posing a significant threat to society.
The prosecutor further argued the accused must be incapacitated through incarceration to safeguard our communities from further harm. This outcome demonstrates the NPA’s dedication to holding perpetrators accountable for gender-based violence (GBV) and to delivering justice to victims and their families.
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