POLOKWANE – The South African Police Service management in Limpopo has welcomed the hefty jail sentences meted out against the murder and rape accused by two courts in the province today, 17 March 2020, for separate incidents that took place in Mahwelereng and Witpoort policing precincts.

The sentencing by Polokwane High Court follows an incident that occurred on 05 October 2018, when the accused Bongani Abraham Boshomane aged 47, petrol bombed a house at Sekgakgapeng village in the Mahwelereng policing area outside Mokopane. The brutal attack left two children and their grandfather dead and the other family members seriously injured.

A special task team to trace the suspect was activated until he was cornered and arrested at Mogoto village outside Zebediela, after he was found hiding in one the local taverns.

The case was assigned to Warrant Officer Legodi for further investigations. The accused was convicted on three counts of murder and ultimately sentenced to three life imprisonment by Polokwane High Court.

Meanwhile, the Lephalale Regional Court sentenced Kgothatso David Thutlwa aged 23, to three (03) life imprisonment without the option of fine on three (03) counts of rape that took place between 2015 and 2016.

The accused raped the three victims aged between 14 and 21 on separate occasions. The investigations revealed that he threatened the victims with a knife before raping them.

Through outstanding investigations by Sergeant Thulare attached to the Lephalale Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, the accused was hunted down, arrested and linked to the three cases.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Jim Ledwaba, welcomed these sentences and commended the investigators for working hard on the cases until the suspects were sent to jail forever

Source: South African Police Service