On Friday 18 March 2022 the Bloemfontein High Court handed five life sentences to serial rapist, Boiki Johannes Litabe (47) who terrorised innocent women in Marquard and Thaba Nchu localities.
On Friday 19 March 2021 Constable Mosiuwa Samuel Ntholeng of Provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigation received six dockets of rape where the perpetrator was suspected to be a serial offender. The member’s investigative mind and gut instinct, when he studied the docket, was that the wanted lawbreaker was unemployed and might have applied for COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant.
The investigation officer then visited the Post Office in the area where the suspect was last active and it was with immediate success. The 46-year-old man was arrested by support of members of Crime Intelligence, Tactical Response Team and the two SECI members on Sunday 21 March 2022 at a house in Selosesha.
On the day, an assortment of valuable property presumed to be stolen such as televisions, cellular telephones, laptop, jewelry and others were found an a case docket was opened accordingly at Selosesha Police Station.
A DNA sample of the suspect was taken and sent to Forensic Science Laboratory and the analysis matched with the specimen collected during the processing of the scenes where the six rapes under investigation happened.
The investigation was concluded and the trial started at Bloemfontein High Court. The accused was found guilty on six (6) charges of rape and one of theft on Wednesday 16 March 2022.
The sentencing was decided today as follows:
1. On a case of rape that happened on Wednesday 18 June 2008, where the accused broke into a house through the window in Mokodumela – Marquard, strangled and raped the 36-year-old victim in the presence of her two-year-old son; the Court sentenced the accused to fifteen (15) years imprisonment.
2. On the second case of rape where the accused broke into a shack dwelling by removing a corrugated iron and raping the 42-year-old epileptic victim on Thursday 7 August 2014; the Court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.
3. The rapist changed location and struck in Moroka – Thaba Nchu on Friday 22 December 2017 night where he pepper-sprayed, strangled and then raped the 18-year-old victim in full view of her 7-year-old brother; the Court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.
4. On Tuesday June 2019 the accused targeted the 74-year-old former school principal living alone in Selosesha. He strangled and raped her and then helped himself to undisclosed amount of money from the victim’s wallet; the Court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for rape, and two (2) years for theft.
5. The next victim was a 58-year-old victim who at the time was staying alone at her own place in Moroka Location on Monday 8 July 2019. The accused broke into the house through the window, strangled the victim with her night dress and raped her; the Court handed the accused another life imprisonment.
6. The 58-year-old victim moved in with her parents in the same Moroka Location and the accused raped her for the second time on Sunday 24 May 2020; the Court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment also.
The Court decided that the fifteen (15) year and the two (2) year sentences will run concurrently with the five (5) life imprisonment sentences. The convict was declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name will appear on the Sexual Offenders Register.
“The sentence must serve as a strong message we send to all the perpetrators of crimes related to Gender based violence, that they will pay for their deeds,” said the Acting Provincial Commissioner, Maj General Solly Lesia.
