The Taung Regional Court sentenced Lebogang Nyoka (34), to four life terms in custody on charges of rape, housebreaking, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and theft. He was sentenced to a further 5 years, for assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and 3 years for theft. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm. He was denied bail and remained in police custody throughout the trial.

Police reports revealed that on 15 September 2014, Nyoka broke into a house occupied by a 40-year-old, while she was sleeping. He then assaulted the victim with a knopkierie all over her body and subsequently raped her. Following this heinous crime, he then stole her television set and fled the scene.

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In a separate incident, Nyoka applied the same modus by breaking into a house in Pampierstat on 24 September 2014, occupied by a 64-year-old woman and her 9-year-old granddaughter, while they were asleep. He then threatened them with a knife before raping both of them. Following his action, he stole a laptop and fled the scene. The 64-year-old lady has since passed on while the matter was still in court.

Nyoka was later arrested for an unrelated incident of housebreaking and police managed to link him to the other two rape incidents through DNA specimen. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. In aggravation of the sentence, Mr Sandile Mbokazi urged the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence and he described Nyoka as a remorseless individual who had no regard for women and children. Magistrate Thataetsile Matolong agreed with the state and alluded to the responsibility that the court holds in dealing with cases of Gender Based Violence and Femicide(GBV&F).

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari-Sekhaolelo lauded the state prosecutor and the investigating officer for a successful conviction. “This conviction should send a stern warning that the criminal justice system will deal harshly with those who continue to engage in such odious acts of crime against women and children”, she concluded.

-SAPS NW