By OBAKENG MAJE
A man (43) has been sentenced to three life sentences for three rapes by the Rustenburg Regional Court on 30 November 2023. Michael Segale was also sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for escape from lawful custody. The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said Segale went on a spree of raping three minors aged 11 and 13 years respectively, and a woman (19) in Boitekong and Lethabong Townships, outside Rustenburg between 2012 and 2017.
Tselanyane further said in the first incident that happened in Soviet Section, near Lethabong in 2012, the victim (19) was walking with her younger sister from the shop when they came across an unknown man, who asked them to accompany him to go fetch his mother’s medicine.
“Along the way in the bushes, Segale grabbed the victim and raped her, and fled the scene afterward. Furthermore, in July 2017, the accused went on and raped two victims in two separate incidents.
“The first victim who was 11 years of age by then, was sent to the shop together with her younger brother at Boitekong Extension 8 when they came across the accused. Segale asked them to accompany him to fetch his belongings somewhere and he did not know the direction properly,” he said.
Tselanyane added that, along the way as they were approaching the bushy area, the accused grabbed the victim, undressed, and raped her. He said in another unrelated incident in Boitekong Extension 4, the two girls who were both aged 13 years then, were playing in the streets when they were called by an unknown man.
“The accused asked them for directions and insisted they walk with him to fetch his sewing machine and some clothes as he needed their help. As they approached the bushes, he threatened them and tied one with a cloth and raped the first one, thereafter proceeded to rape the second minor and fled the scene.
“The police investigations identified Segale as the possible suspect and was by then already convicted on other cases. He was linked to the crimes through modus operandi and later through DNA. In 2018 while the accused was in court, he escaped through the bathroom window after he asked to use the toilet,” he said.
Tselanyane said Segale was later apprehended in Seraleng village, outside Rustenburg. He said Segale was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody, two life imprisonment for raping minors, and a life imprisonment for raping a girl (11).
“He was also sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for raping a woman (19). Segale was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000),” said Tselanyane.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Obakeng Rasego of Rustenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, and all those involved for securing yet another good prosecution during the 16 Days of Activism on no violence against women and children.
Kwena reiterated that the police will work tirelessly to ensure that perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are brought to book.
The Guardian 