By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A man (44) was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment in jail by the De Aar Regional Court for rape, escaping from a lawful custody and attempting to escape from lawful custody. On 25 August 2023 at around 15:40pm, the accused, Zamuxolo Michael Lester raped a woman (30) in the toilet of a tavern in Richmond and was subsequently arrested the following day.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said Lester asked the police official on duty to use the bathroom and managed to escape from the holding cell in the Community Service Centre, but he was re-arrested in Richmond minutes later.
“The accused was later placed in the cells at the police station, where he again attempted to break the mesh fitted to the cell window. He remained in custody and was sentenced in the De Aar Regional Court on 15 July 2024.
“Lester was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for rape, 10 years imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody and five years imprisonment for attempting to escape from lawful custody,” said Kock.
He said Lester’s name will also be recorded in the National Register for Sexual Offenders and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile, Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola commended D/Sgt Ilze Fan from the De Aar Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit and D/Cst Rodney Julius of the Richmond Detectives for their hard-work that led to the outstanding sentences.
“Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a priority for the police. They will continue to sharpen their responses to crimes committed against the most vulnerable in society,” she said.
The Guardian 