Picture: Community members protesting outside court over a rape case/Generic
By REGINALD KANYANE
13 January 2025- A man was sentenced to three life terms imprisonment by the Molopo Regional Court for rape. This comes after Fezile Zozi committed the crimes in Lomanyaneng village, near Mahikeng in May 2010, August 2021 and September 2023.
In committing the offences, Zozi would after meeting the victims, cleverly volunteered to accompany them to their places, but ended up raping them. It emerged during the proceedings that Zozi met the first victim (15), in the evening on 20 August 2010.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said out of his own accord, he accompanied the girl who was going home. Mokgwabone said they were on the way when Zozi dragged the girl into the bushes and raped her.
“The convict was on bail in August 2021, when he met a woman (18), who was on her way home just after midnight. Once more, he volunteered to accompany the woman.
“They were walking when Zozi told the woman that she was bewitched. Further that he had the ability to heal the woman. Due to the woman’s refusal to the proposal, Zozi forcefully undressed and raped her next to the road,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said, two years later, Zozi met a woman (38), walking home in the early hours of the morning. He added that in this instance, Zozi pretended to be a prophet and attempted to apply prophetic practices to the woman.
“Upon refusal, the woman was dragged to the nearby bushes and raped. Consequent to investigations including the linkages, all the cases were combined for the purpose of trial,” said Mokgwabone.
In addressing the court for a severe punishment, the state prosecutor, advocate Kefentse Diseko, highlighted the gravity and prevalence of the offences. Diseko told the court that the accused violated the constitutional rights of the victims.
“The convict was accordingly handed life sentence for each of the three counts of rape. The sentences will run concurrently. He was in addition, declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000,” he said.
Meanwhile, in welcoming the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr Rachel Makhari and the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, pointed out that while the rape incidents caused trauma to the victims, it is pleasing that the collaboration of entities to ensure justice to the victims of crime, continues to yield positive results. Asaneng applauded Diseko, as well as other role players for their cooperation, which ensured that another criminal is removed from society.
The Guardian 