Thorough and detailed investigations conducted by Limpopo detectives has ensured two rapists and a murderer obtain hefty sentences on Friday, 20 June 2014 at different courts in the province.
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Fanie Masemola hope this sentences will serve as a warning to all the perpetrators of gender violence that their acts will be severely punished.
Lutendo Madume (26) from Tshilwavhusiku, outside Makhado, was sentenced to life for kidnapping and stabbing his girlfriend Shetani Tuwani (20) to death. The murder took place last year after he forcefully took the victim from her home to his house. The mother reported the incident to the police whom on arrival heard the victim screaming. They were forced to break the door only to find the victim had already succumbed to stabbed wounds. Madume was sentenced to two years for kidnapping and also received a life sentence for the murder by the Thohoyandou High Court.
At the same time the Ritavi Magistrate Court sentenced Shadrack Mabunda (40) to life for raping a three year old female toddler from Letsitele two years ago. The victim’s mother arrived home from work to find her daughter missing. Searching for the child, she found her in the company of Mabunda near her house, who ran away after seeing her. The mother suspected something was wrong after the child complained of pains to her private parts. The toddler was taken to Letabo Hospital were the rape was confirmed. The suspect was traced and arrested the day after. He remained in custody until his conviction.
In another incident, Thabiso Freddy Senyolo (20) was sentenced to 20 and 10 years respectively on two charges of rape by the Naphuno Regional Court. Senyolo was found guilty after he raped two girls aged 15 and 19 in August 2013. The two victims had just finished performing at a local tavern in Maake and when they retreated to their room they were overpowered at knife point by Senyolo and viciously raped the two victims separately. The police were alerted and the suspect was arrested the same night. Senyolo was also denied bail until his sentencing.
"We are constantly directing police resources and capacitating our detectives, so that police do not only arrest perpetrators of crime, but also secure convictions. In order to achieve these objectives, we needed to re-enforce our detective and investigative arms,” stated Masemola. “The convictions in this case indicate that our investments are yielding the desired results. I am immensely proud of my members in securing this sentences.”
Meanwhile, Masemola emphasised that gender-based and domestic violence not only affect the most vulnerable in society but can also contribute to a mentality that violence is an acceptable and valid means of self-assertion. He stressed that protection of communities was therefore central to the police strategies aimed at reducing incidences of gender-based violence. He affirmed that the victim-oriented police service was an important part of the overall criminal justice response to crimes against vulnerable groups in society. This approach will also encourage victims to report incidents of crime and ultimately contribute to building confidence and trust in the police.
For enquiries please contact:
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi
Cell: 082 373 2408
