Man Sentenced to Two Life Terms for Raping and Stabbing Former Lover
A 33-year-old man who raped and later repeatedly stabbed the same woman in separate attacks has been sentenced to two life terms in prison in the North West.
Thato Victor Maruping was sentenced by the Schweizer-Reneke Regional Court on Thursday after being convicted of rape and attempted murder.
The conviction followed an investigation by the Vryburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
The case dates back to December 2020, when Maruping attacked the 31-year-old woman at his parental home in Ipelegeng.
According to police, the court heard that the victim had accompanied Maruping to the property on Friday, 4 December 2020.
What began as a visit turned violent.
Maruping allegedly assaulted the woman with a spade and threatened to bury her in a hole he was digging. He then raped her.
Despite the attack, the woman managed to escape and reported the matter to police.
Three years later, the violence allegedly returned.
Former Lover Attacked With Knife
On Sunday, 10 December 2023, Maruping confronted the same woman while she was walking with her brother-in-law.
Police said Maruping produced a knife and stabbed her eight times.
The attack left the woman with serious injuries and resulted in a prolonged hospital stay.
Maruping was subsequently arrested and faced charges arising from the two incidents.
The court convicted him of rape and attempted murder.
Two Life Sentences
The Schweizer-Reneke Regional Court sentenced Maruping to life imprisonment for rape and a further life sentence for attempted murder.
The sentence for attempted murder was ordered to run concurrently with the life sentence imposed for rape.
The court also ordered that Maruping be declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000.
His details will further be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The sentence brings a lengthy case involving two violent attacks against the same woman to a close, with the court imposing the harshest available punishment for the offences for which Maruping was convicted.
