In the first case, Freddy Thobedi, 38, was sentenced to ten years’ direct imprisonment by the Klerksdorp Regional Court after being convicted of rape. The sentence stems from an incident on Saturday, 16 July 2022.

North West police spokesperson Capt Majang Skalkie said the court heard the woman, 27, was with Thobedi, her cousin’s boyfriend, while looking for transport to Jouberton.

“He told her to leave her baby behind, citing the area is dangerous at night. She left with the accused, who took her to a house without lights, threatened her with a knife and raped her.”

Thobedi was sentenced to a further ten years’ direct imprisonment for another rape committed on Wednesday, 22 September 2021. The court heard the woman, 39, had borrowed a wheelbarrow from Thobedi, who was her neighbour.

He told her the wheelbarrow was at Kanana Extension 14 and asked her to accompany him to fetch it from her sister’s house. When they arrived and found no one there, Thobedi raped her. He appeared in court on Monday (21/9) on both charges.

In a third case, Ishmael Tsholofelo Montsho, 34, appeared in the Klerksdorp Regional Court on Tuesday (22/9), where he was convicted of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Skalkie said the court heard the woman, 29, was asleep with her child, 3, at her boyfriend’s home. She had left the door unlocked so her boyfriend could enter when he returned.

While asleep, she heard footsteps and initially believed her boyfriend had arrived. The accused climbed into bed and lay next to her. When she switched on the light, she realised it was not her boyfriend, but Montsho.

In the fourth case, Tisetso Matolo, 28, appeared in the Klerksdorp Regional Court on Wednesday, 16 September, and was sentenced to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for rape.

Evidence showed that on Saturday, 23 September 2023, Matolo, the victim’s ex-boyfriend, tried to force her to leave with him. When she refused, he dragged her to his residence and raped her. The matter was reported to Khuma police station, where a rape case was opened for investigation.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered that Matolo’s name be entered in the national register for sex offenders.

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