The High Court in Limpopo, based in Polokwane, has sentenced 36-year-old serial rapist Ronny Maluleke from Ritavi village to 98 years direct imprisonment for charges including two counts of housebreaking with intent to rape, and 19 counts of rape.

Limpopo spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Maluleke was also sentenced for 12 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“The accused pleaded guilty in terms of Section 112 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act. In his statement, the accused stated that between 2015 and 2021 he had entered the victims’ homesteads during the night where he threatened, robbed the victims before raping them,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.

During his criminal rein, Maluleke had also created a Facebook account which he used to lure unsuspecting victims who travelled from Johannesburg, Alexandra, Mokopane, Eastern Cape and QwaQwa under the pretence that he had secured security and domestic jobs for them.

“Upon their arrival at Tzaneen, he would threaten them with a knife and a firearm before raping them. He would then rob them of belongings such as money, cellphones and other valuables,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.

Maluleke was later arrested at a hospital after one of the victims shot him in the leg. The brave woman had turned the tables on Maluleke and shot him with his own firearm, which he was using to threaten her.

In aggravation of sentence, State advocate Muneiwa Ratshibvumo submitted that the accused took advantage of vulnerable women who were desperate to find employment and violated them sexually, and robbed them.

Ratshibvumo submitted that Maluleke had ruined the women’s lives, and violated their dignity.

She concluded by submitting that Maluleke had stripped away the trust the victims had in men, and they suffered emotionally, and were devastated by the ordeal.

In sentencing Maluleke, Acting Judge Ephraim Makgoba remarked that the accused committed these offences over a long period of time and the prescribed life imprisonment sentence would be a lenient sentence due to the multiplicity of the offences.

Makgoba said Maluleke capitalised on the high rate of unemployment across the country to lure the women to Tzaneen, and further used violence with a firearm and a knife when committing these offences.

Ultimately, the court slapped Maluleke with an effective sentence of 98 years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, advocate Ivy Thenga has welcomed the sentence imposed on Maluleke, adding that she hopes that it will deter other perpetrators from committing similar offences.

Thenga further commended the prosecution led by Ratshibvumo and the investigating officer, Sergeant Mokgadi Ishmael Matjeka from the Limpopo serial and electronic crime investigation unit “for their diligent work”.

IOL

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