Limpopo: The long arm of the law has caught up with a 28-year-old man who has been sentenced to prison following the rape of three teenagers in Limpopo, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Polokwane High Court sentenced Freddy Moraka Modibedi for the rape of three teenage girls aged between 15 and 17. The incidents occurred between 3 and 17 September 2022 in Mmotong Ga-Mabotja, Mpone, and Boratapelo. The accused encountered unknown girls, threatened them with a knife, robbed them of their possessions, and subsequently raped them.

These incidents were reported to the police in Seshego and Matlala, with the cases transferred to the Seshego Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offenses Unit. Sergeant Nation Teffo, attached to this unit, was tasked with further investigating the cases. After almost a year on the run, the suspect was arrested and positively linked to the crimes. He appeared in the Seshego and Matlala Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in custody.

The cases were later transferred to the Polokwane High Court, where he was convicted and sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. The sentences for various charges, including kidnapping, rape, and robbery, were detailed by the court. The sentences for counts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 will run concurrently with the 30-year sentence for count 2.

The court ordered that five years of the 30-year imprisonment be suspended for five years, conditional on the accused not being convicted of any offense under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 during this suspension period.

The Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe expressed satisfaction with the sentences imposed on the accused. “We appreciate efforts by the investigating officer, and everyone involved in cases until justice was served to the victims and their families,” said Lieutenant-General Hadebe.