| 2023/11/14 |
Media Statement POLOKWANE - Tzaneen Regional Court handed a hefty sentence to convicted and serial rapist, Clifford Butana Baloyi. Clifford was convicted for rape and the court imposed a hefty sentence of ten years’ and life imprisonment respectively on Monday, 13 November 2023. The court heard that it was on Saturday, 17 June 2017 at about 15:00, when the victim, a 19-year-old woman was going to her home in Lwandlamuni village outside Letsitele from Nwamitwa village when she met an unknown male suspect who suddenly threatened her with a knife and took her to the nearby river whereby he raped her repeatedly. Additionally the court heard that in a separate incident on Saturday, 24 June 2017 at about 15:30, a 14-year-old girl was dragged into the bushes by an unknown male suspect while she was walking on the street, Nwamitwa clinic to her homestead. It is reported that the case was opened at Letsitele police station. The two cases were transferred to Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further handling and the investigation team followed, gathered information and through the DNA results, the team successfully linked these cases to Clifford Butana Baloyi. The accused was arrested on Thursday, 05 April 2018 and the Investigating Officer has successfully opposed bail against him until he was convicted and sentenced while remaining in custody. Both cases of rape were successfully investigated by Sergeant, Klaas Edmond Mulungwa of Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. The court has ordered that Clifford Butana Baloyi's particulars be endorsed in both part B of the National Child Protection Register and National Register for Sexual Offenders since he has been convicted in terms of Act 32 of 2007. The court has found Clifford unsuitable to work with children. The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe hailed the lengthy jail term imposed on the convicted rapist and applauded the members involved in for securing the conviction. "This sentence will serve as a deterrent to would be rapists. I am delighted that this sentence has been imposed as we are to observe the 16 Days of Activism campaign for no violence against women and children," concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe. Ends
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