The relentless efforts of the police to solve crimes committed against women and children continue to bear fruits following the conviction of a serial rapist.
On Monday, 19 April 2021, the Klerksdorp Regional Court convicted Jeremiah Paseka Tatai (30) for a series of rapes he committed between 2010 and 2018.
The accused was unknown to all his victims and that led to closure of all dockets as undetected as he was untraceable. It was only in 2018 that Tatai was arrested on another rape case after the linkage was received from Forensic Science Laboratory and matching four cases that were previously registered.
Following the linkage, all four dockets were reopened and investigated. Furthermore, the DNA tests were conducted and successfully matched and linked Tatai to all five cases.
The accused was eventually found guilty on all five counts of rape and sentenced to two life imprisonment. Tatai was also sentenced to additional 20 years imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended all those who were involved in the investigation of these cases, especially the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Omphemetse Babuile of Klerksdorp Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. He reiterated that the police and all other role players will strive to ensure that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) perpetrators are brought to book and sentenced.
