The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the harsh sentencing that was handed down to a rapist and murderer, Nhlanhla Mlotshwa (Shabangu) aged 21.
He was sentenced on Wednesday 9 November 2022 by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court which was sitting in Middelburg.
The court heard how Nhlanhla Mlotshwa (Shabangu) terrorized a number of women between the year 2021 and 2022.
In all these incidents, cases were opened and registered at Dirkiesdorp Police Station.
An urgent action had to be taken by the police to find the person responsible as well as ensure that he is brought to book. An investigation team was established to probe these dreadful incidents that were perpetuated by the accused against defenceless women.
The accused was finally arrested by the police in Driefontein on the same day that he attacked the last victim on 2 May 2022.
Nhlanhla Mlotshwa (Shabangu) was linked to all three cases as well as linked to another murder, rape and attempted rape in Paulpietersburg (in KZN Province).
The accused pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and two counts of rape. The accused will still go on trial for the Paulpietersburg cases.
The accused was convicted on 7 November 2022 hence his sentence today as follows:
On one count of rape, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
On one count of murder, he was slapped with life sentence.
On another count of rape, the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment.
On another murder count, the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment
Meanwhile on a separate murder count, he was punished to spend 18 years in prison.
The four life sentences will run separately and not run concurrently however the 18 years will run concurrently with the life sentences.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended the hardwork displayed by the investigation team, the Prosecution team and the Judiciary which culminated into the well-deserved sentence. “We trust that the sentence will deter others who perpetuate violence against women” said the General.
