A 33-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after the Ritavi Magistrate’s Court in Polokwane handed him a life sentence for the horrific rape of a 15 year old and a 19 year old in separate incidents.

In October 2016, a 15-year-old girl was walking home in Babanana village, under the Letsitele policing area, when Phillip Nkuna Ngomane ambushed her. According to Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng, the accused brandished a firearm, dragged the victim into nearby bushes, and violently raped her.

“Phillip produced a firearm and dragged the victim to the nearby bushes. The victim was unexpectedly raped three times by the suspect who later fled the scene on foot.”

Thakeng stated that the victim reported the rape to her family, who promptly alerted the local police. The case was later escalated to the Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offenses (FCS) Unit for further investigation.

“A rape case was opened at the police station and later transferred to Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) for further investigations. Sergeant Sharon Phumudzo Mabongo was tasked to handle the matter, and through her sterling detective abilities, she managed to arrest the accused on 26 July 2017,” he added.

Thakeng also revealed that the accused was facing another rape charge involving a 19-year-old victim at the time of his arrest.

“The accused was reportedly appearing at Ritavi Magistrate court in connection with another rape case involving a 19 year-old female victim at the time of his arrest after he was positively linked through a Forensic DNA analysis,” he said.

The accused made several court appearances and was granted R2 500 bail on July 25, 2023. He was found guilty on January 21 and sentenced to life imprisonment on March 31.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, praised the police's efforts in removing criminals like Phillip Nkuna Ngomane from society.

The Star

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