In a rape and murder committed in Groot Marico on Saturday, 1 September 2018, Rapula Mothibedi (40) was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment by the Zeerust Regional Court on Tuesday, 25 June 2019.
It was disclosed that an 18 year old victim was visiting her boyfriend at Reboile Location, Groot Marico, where Rapula Mothibedi also stayed in a shack behind the main house.
The accused took the victim, who was alone at home, to his shack during the day, then raped and strangled her to death. It came out during the trial that after committing the crimes, the accused hid the victim’s body under the bed.
Preliminary investigation showed that the victim’s body was dropped in the bushes where it was found at about 11:00 on Sunday, 2 September 2018 near the N4 Road.
Subsequent to an intensive investigation, Rapula Mothibedi was arrested shortly after the body was discovered.
The accused was sentenced as follows:
Count 1: Rape- 25 years imprisonment
Count 2: Murder- 15 years imprisonment.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
