Putting more efforts to address violence against women and children, beyond the 16 Days of Activism campaign, Sergeant Pebetse Vanessa Maile (38), is determined to track down our society’s sex offenders.
The seasoned detective working at the Groblersdal Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Sekhukhune District worked meticulously and secured 11 LIFE sentences plus a combined 74 years imprisonment in just 10 years since she joined the Unit.
Sergeant Maile in 2016, cracked one of the complex cases in which a 20-year-old woman was raped by two unknown men after she hitchhiked their motor vehicle at Middleburg policing area to Stofberg.The two suspects instead drove to a secluded area at Magagatala in Groblesdal policing area where they took turns in raping the woman. The suspects then left the victim stranded and she was assisted by other motorists. She opened a case of rape at the Laersdrift Police Station in Mpumalanga province and it was transferred to Groblesdal on the same date.
The Sergeant applied her detective skills and immediately contacted the LCRC officer on duty and they visited the scene.
They collected all the evidence on the scene including cigarettes buds as part of investigation.
The Sergeant also visited the victim and interviewed her again. She was able to acquire comprehensive information about the description of suspects and their vehicle.
The suspects were arrested following the Identification Parade.
The Sergeant successfully opposed bail until the DNA results came back positive. The two accused, Sipho Seroke Mampa who was then 34 years of age and Obed Methukwane Pilusa (32), were then convicted for rape and sentenced to life imprisonment each plus 18 years imprisonment in 2018.
“I am guided by my Maker and He is the one who gives me more strength and instructions.
I also believe discipline and commitment in the working environment is key to success. I tackle each case with enthusiasm and resilience as if it’s my first day on the job, remarked Sergeant Maile.
