Media Statement issued by the Limpopo Media Centre
Corporate Communication and Liaison
South African Police Service

The Polokwane Regional Court has sentenced a 26-year-old rapist, Martin Tebogo Mamabolo from Mankweng location outside Polokwane to an effective 40 year jail term for two counts of rape that he committed between 2014 and 2015.

The accused was using the same Modus Operandi in which he would lure his victims by advertising that he is selling an RDP house at Unit F in Mankweng location.

His barbaric act began on October 2014 when he raped a 57-year-old woman from Ga-Matlala village outside Polokwane. He phoned his victims and they agreed to meet him in Polokwane. Upon their arrival, one of the victims was approached by Mamabolo's nephew and the duo departed to Mankweng location intending to view the RDP house on sale.

They arrived at the house and she rested in one of the rooms while waiting for Mamabolo. Mamabolo suddenly arrived and forcefully raped her.

Another rape ordeal occurred after his gentle persuasion convinced a middle aged woman whom he met on the street. Mamabolo took her to the house and while inside inspecting the house, he dragged her to one of the rooms and raped her.

Meanwhile, the Polokwane High Court sentenced eight men aged between 34 and 60 to a combined effective imprisonment of 33 years each without a fine for kidnapping, murder and attempted murder.

The convicts are Adam kgatuke aged 52, White Masemola aged 60, James Dolamo aged 38, Richard Masemola aged 43, Kholo Masemola aged 35, Andrew Masemola aged 34, Zakaria Nkadimeng aged 33 and Sylvester Matlebjane aged 40.

These heavy jail terms emanated from an incident where the accused went to the houses of the three victims whom were accused of committing burglaries around Ga-Marishane village.

They severely assaulted the victims and stoned them until Kgogo Phahlamohlaka and Kgomotjo Shaku succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has welcomed the long term incarcerations of the accused. “We hope that these sentences will serve as a deterrent to all the perpetrators of mob attacks and killings. Members of the community must know that one may not fight crime by committing crime. This tendency of taking the law into your own hands must stop abruptly but those who close their ears, will be dealt with harshly and without compromise”, concluded General Ledwaba.

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