The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the outcome of two life imprisonment sentencings meted out by the High Court Division of Polokwane to the accused of kidnapping, rape and murder of a minor.
On Friday 7 July 2023, the High Court Division of Polokwane convicted and sentenced a 26-year-old male to two life terms and further 10 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping, rape and murder of a six-year-old girl.
The Court heard that the accused kidnapped, raped and killed a six-year-old girl who was reported missing by her family.
It is reported that the victim was last seen playing outside her grandmother’s residence. She was found half naked and dead at the accused’s house at Phokoane, Mmakophala village in Sekhukhune by the Police and members of the community on 30 August 2021.
The accused was subsequently arrested and the case of kidnapping, rape and murder was opened and transferred to Nebo Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
The docket was assigned to Detective Warrant Officer Moses Mmatema for investigation.
The case has was initially trialled in Nebo Magistrate’s Court and later transferred to High Court Division of Polokwane for further hearing.
Detective Warrant Officer Moses Mmatema ensured that the accused was never granted bail, until he was found guilty on the following counts of offences:
Count 1- Murder – Life Imprisonment
Count 2 – Rape – Life Imprisonment
Count 3 – Kidnapping – 10 years’ in imprisonment
The sentence terms will run concurrently, and the accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
