The South African Police Service in Limpopo have welcomed the long term incarceration imposed on two men convicted of rape. The Lenyenye Regional Court has sentenced Gabadela Shadrack Shikwambana (53) to an effective life imprisonment.
Shikwambana who resides at Juliesburg Rhulani village, in Maake area outside Tzaneen, raped his 17 year old niece during 2016 at her home.
The ordeal started with the accused making sexual advances towards his niece but she rubbed it off thinking it was a joke. On 30 September 2016, he broke a window to gain access to the house where the victim was sleeping and raped her at knife point.
This incident was reported to the Police and the suspect was immediately arrested. A team of Investigators from Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) worked tirelessly on the case until the accused was ultimately convicted.
Meanwhile on 23 July 2018, in the same court, Shane Komane (23) was sentenced to an effective ten years Imprisonment without an option of a fine for rape that took place during the year 2016 at Finale Village around Hoedspruit policing area.
On 12 March 2016 at about 23:00 in the evening, a 19 year old woman was allegedly returning from late entertainment when she was attacked by Komane. The terrified woman ran to the nearby house to seek help but the man followed her and threatened the owner with a knife demanding for her release.
Afterwards, he then dragged the helpless woman to the bushes at knife point, assaulted and repeatedly raped her.
Soon after the case was reported to the Police, the rapist was tracked down through intensive investigations and was kept in custody until his ultimate fate.
Komane was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and never to work with children.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba expressed his delight and contentment after the professional efforts made especially by Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit.
“I hope that the sentences will bring a relief to both women and their families knowing that their attackers will no longer pose a threat on them and the society, ” concluded General Ledwaba.
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