LIMPOPO — Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Senwabarwana Regional Court following their conviction for the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Ga-Makgato village. The severe penalties were handed down for the 2018 sexual assault in the Capricorn District, bringing a major conclusion to a high-profile case that has spanned several years.
The horrific ordeal began in the early hours of Saturday, September 29, 2018. The teenage victim was socializing with friends at a neighborhood tavern when she stepped away to use the restroom at approximately 04:00. Upon approaching the facilities, she was intercepted by Marope Mahlatse Lucky (28) and Ndou Ngwako Small (26). The pair forcibly dragged the teenager down the street, ignoring a nearby security guard who attempted to stop the abduction and was instead met with verbal abuse from the attackers.
The victim was subsequently hauled into a nearby two-roomed house. There, she was subjected to a prolonged gang rape by Lucky, Small, and Modau Tjapudi Tebogo (30). The assault escalated when two additional men, Mosena Thabang (31) and Semata Johannes (28), arrived at the residence and joined the attack. The young girl was raped multiple times by the group before being released later that same morning.
A rape case was immediately registered, leading to the arrest of all five suspects on the same day, September 29, 2018. Although the men were initially released on bail, the legal proceedings fractured when Mosena Thabang and Ndou Ngwako Small absconded. Both men ceased attending their court appearances, prompting the judiciary to issue active arrest warrants for their capture.
The trial proceeded against the remaining three accused. On May 25, 2026, the trio was found guilty of the charges. The formal sentencing was handed down on Monday, June 22, 2026. Marope Mahlatse Lucky (28), Modau Tjapudi Tebogo (30), and Semata Johannes (28) were each sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape.
