POTCHEFSTROOM: 9 July 2022 - The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena has welcomed the sentence handed down to Basimane William Sebata (47) by the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 7 June 2022, for rape and robbery.
The accused’ sentencing came after he raped and robbed a 26-year-old victim, who was walking towards the Rustenburg taxi rank in Kruger Street on Wednesday, 25 March 2020. Evidence heard in court indicated that the victim was approached by Sebata, who was unknown to her. He suddenly grabbed the victim from behind, strangled her to the ground, then assaulted and ultimately raped. The victim was assisted by two men who heard her screaming. The suspect escaped upon seeing the men approaching and the police were called to the scene. The victim was taken to hospital per ambulance, with serious head injuries.
Police, with the assistance of the two men who witnessed the incident, managed to locate the suspect not far from the scene wearing a t-shirt that was full of the victim’s blood. Furthermore, the victim’s belongings that included her cellular phone and cash were found in possession of Sebata.
The victim, who was hospitalised, was only discharged after being treated for two weeks in hospital.
Sebata appeared in court for his first court appearance on Thursday, 26 March 2020. Investigations revealed that Sabata was out on parole for only 5 days, after being sentenced for another rape case.
Due to excellent investigations by Sergeant Christopher Maimela of the Rustenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, Sabata was found guilty for rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced as follows:
Rape – 20 years imprisonment.
Robbery aggravating - 15 years imprisonment, served concurrently with the rape sentence of 20 years.
Sabata was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended the Investigating Officer and prosecution for a job done well. He further thanked the two men who without thinking of their own safety, rushed to aid a woman in distress and by doing so, saved her life.