The Division of Limpopo High Court in Polokwane on Tuesday, 06 February 2024 sentenced convicted Abel Sello Lefoane, (36), to an effective 25 years imprisonment for five counts of rape, two counts of business robbery and one count of common robbery that took place in Vaalwater and Lephalale in Waterberg district between 2007 and 2016 respectively.
The rape victims were aged between 13 and 29, and the accused targeted his victims while walking alone and threatened them with a knife. In another incident, he also used a firearm.
Lefoane’s reign of terror commenced in 2015 when he raped a 14-year-old girl who was returning from the local shop.He threatened her with a knife and dragged her to his house. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
In the same period, he raped a 15-year-old girl who was returning from school using the same modus operandi. The ordeal occurred in the bushes. The accused was also sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
The third incident occurred in Lephalale, where he threatened a 29-year-old woman with a firearm and knife, forced her into the bushes, and raped her.He then robbed her of cash and two cell phones. On count 3(rape), he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and count 4 (common robbery), 15 years imprisonment.
On count 5, the accused was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for raping a 15-year- old girl in Vaalwater during 2016.
He was also sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old girl in Vaalwater while collecting berries in the nearby bushes.
In addition to the rape charges, the accused was convicted of two counts of burglary business that took place separately in Vaalwater between 2007 and 2008.He broke into a coffee and gift shop and stole a substantial amount of money. Count 7 and 8, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment each.
The accused was subsequently arrested in August 2022 through DNA, following a lengthy and meticulous investigation carried out by Warrant Officer Ciska Kruger attached to the Modimolle Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, who also successfully opposed bail.
The court ordered counts 1, 2 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 to run concurrently with count 6.The accused will therefore serve an effective 25 years imprisonment.
Limpopo Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers has hailed all the role players for the excellent work of ensuring Justice is served.
