| 2024/06/15 |
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Media Statement POLOKWANE – On Thursday, 13 June 2024, Phalaborwa Regional Court convicted and sentenced Ngwako Ngwato (24) to three life imprisonment for rape15 years for robbery and 5 years for theft. The court heard that between March and April 2014, the accused and his co-accused gang raped victims aged 16 and 25 in the Namakgale near Phalaborwa and robbed them of their belongings, including cellphones and cash The victims reported incidents to the police, and rape, robbery, and theft cases were registered and assigned to Sergeant Mhlongo Khazamula for further investigation. The victims managed to identify the accused and reported to the police. The accused was later arrested on 24 November 2014; he was denied bail; and escaped from prison; and he was rearrested again in a different robbery case in 2016. In November 2018, the accused escaped again, was re-arrested at Burgersfort for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and was sentenced to three years in prison. In 2021, he escaped again from Leewkop prison and was rearrested in Hammanskraal in March 2024 for robbery. He was in custody until he was found guilty. Phalaborwa Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit assigned Sergeant Khazamula Mhlongo, to investigated the case and he performed an excellent job; he successfully opposed bail, and the accused was kept in custody throughout the trial. The second accused sentenced on counts 1 and 2, and he was serving his sentence when Ngwako disappeared. The sentences were passed as follows: Count 3: Rape (gang): 1 life imprisonment Count 4: Robbery, 5 years imprisonment Count 5: Rape (gang): 1 life imprisonment Count 6: Robbery, 5 years imprisonment Count 7: Rape (gang): 1 life imprisonment Count: 8: Theft 5 years imprisonment Count 9: Robbery, 5 years imprisonment All sentences are direct imprisonment. Without the option of a fine, they are to run concurrently. The offender was declared unfit to possess a firearm. His name should be endorsed in a national register for sex offenders. The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the sentencing handed out by the court. She further applauded the investigating team for securing the conviction. Ends
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