Tebogo Msimanga |
The Nkomazi Regional Court in Boschfontein on sentenced Thabiso Mathebula (29) to 15 years in prison for rape and 3 years for house breaking. On 16 February 2019 during the night, Mathebula who was 27 years old at that time, broke into a certain house at Naas and found a woman (then aged 57) asleep.
Mpumalanga Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said according to the victim (who is now 60), she was woken up by a large bang at the door. Before she knew it, Mathebula got inside and pointed her with a knife. He then pushed and pinned her down on the floor and then raped her.
“The incident was then reported to the police where a case of rape with an additional charge of house breaking was opened at Tonga SAPS. The members worked tirelessly on the case and arrested him a year later after a thorough investigation where he was linked through DNA evidence”.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has applauded the collaborative effort by the Detective team, the Prosecution and the Judiciary which resulted in the well-deserved sentence.
“Perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence have no space in our society and we hope that the sentence will serve as a deterrence to others who might consider emulating the actions of the accused”.
