Makua sentenced for rape and murder
HLOGOTLOU
The Polokwane High Court has handed a hefty sentence to Gerald Khomotso Makua (32) on 29 April. Makua was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, 20 years for two rape cases, five years of defeating the ends of justice, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 15 years imprisonment on house breaking with intend to commit an offence. The sentences are to run concurrently with count one for life term imprisonment.
Makua allegedly raped two elderly women and brutally murdered one of the victims during his reign of terror between 2016 and 2019 period in Sekhukhune.
“On August 28, 2016, the accused allegedly found a 62 year-old woman who was collecting firewood in the bushes at Legolaneng village. She was attacked, raped and brutally killed by the accused who later cut her body into pieces.
“Afterwards, Makua took her dress and wrapped the victim’s hands and head and immediately fled the scene. The accused managed to dump the organs inside a pit toilet in Mogaung village,” said Limpopo SAPS spokesman Lt Col Mmaphaswa Seabi.
The victim, Thabitha Hlakodi’s body was recovered after few days and later buried without the missing body parts.
According to the SAPS, Makua continued with his horrendous acts at Mogaung village on June 8, 2019 after he gained entry inside a house in the evening and found a 59 year-old woman who was threatened and raped by the unknown suspect who fled the scene afterwards.
“A rape case was opened at Hlogotlou SAPS, it was transferred to Groblersdal where it was assigned to Warrant Officer Moses Matema to investigate and through his indefatigable abilities and dedication he finally managed to apprehend the rapist at his residence in Sterkfontein village on April 7, 2020. The accused was positively linked with a DNA at both incidents and never granted bail until his sentencing,” added Seabi.
Limpopo SAPS commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe has complimented the investigating team of detectives in ensuring that the high court imposed a lengthy incarceration to Makua.