Prisoner handed down additional substantial sentences
DENNILTON – A prisoner already serving jail terms for previous offences, the 31 year-old Eric Sello Sebothoma, was further sentenced to substantial sentences for two counts of attempted rape and four counts of rape by the Polokwane High Court on 20 March.
The conviction stems from a series of heinous crimes that occurred between 2012 and 2017, targeting vulnerable women and young girls between the ages of 10 and 31.
The court heard that the accused terrorized the community of Dennilton outside Groblersdal using the same modus operandi. He would break into the victims’ houses during the night, threaten them with a knife and rape them. The accused also robbed some of the victims of their valuables.
In one of the incidents, which took place on 29 June 2013, a ten year-old girl was sleeping with her seven-year old cousin on the same bed when an intruder tried to strangle her. The accused threatened both children with a knife before raping the victim. He thereafter informed the victim that she should not worry because he used protection.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police spokesperson, informed that the cases were investigated Sergeant Pebetse Maile of the Groblersdal FCS Unit. Ledwaba said the accused was finally linked to the cases and arrested in 2020.
“At the time of arrest, the accused was already convicted and sentenced to 29 years imprisonment on counts of rape and house breaking committed in Gauteng province,” indicated Ledwaba.
Despite already serving sentences for unrelated crimes, the Polokwane High Court sentenced the accused to 25 years imprisonment, highlighting the severity of the crimes and its dedication to upholding the rights and dignity of the survivors.
He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment on count 3 of attempted rape, eight years imprisonment on count 5 of attempted rape, 25 years imprisonment for on count 8 of rape, 10 years imprisonment on count 11 of rape, 10 years imprisonment on count 14 of rape and 25 years imprisonment for count 16 of rape.
The court ordered that sentences in counts, 3, 5, 8, 11 and 14, run concurrently with the sentence in count 16. The court further ordered that the 25 years imprisonment run concurrently with the sentence of 29 years, which the accused is currently serving.
The Provincial Commissioner of South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said they hope this sentencing sends a clear message that SAPS, together with the judicial system, will not rest until individuals who prey on the most vulnerable members of the society are brought to justice.
