POLOKWANE – The 28 year old serial rapist, Sakkie Ephraim Manganyi was given eight (08) life plus twenty five years (25) imprisonment for rape, robberies and kidnappings, by the Phalaborwa Regional court. The accused was positively linked to eight (08) rape cases he allegedly committed in the Namakgale policing area between 2012 and 2014.
On the 12 February 2012 at about 02:30, a 17 year-old victim was walking with her boyfriend when they met three (3) unknown male suspects. Suddenly, the suspects grabbed the woman and threatened her partner with a knife and took their cell phones. Her boyfriend managed to escape but the victim was dragged to the nearby bushes and raped by the suspects who later fled the scene.
The suspect continued with his devious acts and raped a 28 year-old woman with his accomplices on Sunday, 03 June 2012 at about 20:30. The victim was busy practicing to drive a vehicle with her boyfriend at the local ground near Phalaborwa Primary school.
Unexpectedly, three unknown male suspects emerged and tried to open the doors which were locked. One suspect produced a firearm and the victims were instructed to open the doors which they complied.
Afterwards, the suspects drove off with the victim to the bushes and she was raped by the suspect who later abandoned the vehicle with her.
Furthermore, on Saturday, 06 September 2014 at about 20:40, a 24 year-old woman was walking along the street with her male classmate when they came across two unknown suspects. The suspects started beating her classmate who ran away and he forcefully dragged her to the riverlet and raped her several times.
Rape cases were opened at Namakgale Police station and they were later assigned to Detective Sergeant Khazamula Oral Mhlongo attached to the Phalaborwa Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual offences (FCS) Unit.
The member worked tirelessly to ensure that the accused was arrested within a short period and positively linked him to eight counts of rape in 2014. The accused was kept in police custody without bail until his sentencing and he refused to reveal his accomplices.
The sentences were handed down on charges of robberies, rape and kidnappings, as follows:
– Eight (08) life imprisonment for eight (08) counts of rape.
– Twenty five (25) years imprisonment for eight (08) counts of robberies and kidnappings.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Major General Christine Morakaladi is delighted about the sterling work done by Detective Sergeant Mhlongo and she encouraged other Saps members to follow his footsteps in ensuring that criminals are removed from the society.
