By OBAKENG MAJE
9 March 2026 – The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, has welcomed the recent sentences handed down in four separate cases, including three involving rape and one related to tampering with and/or damaging of essential infrastructure. Naidoo said in the first incident, a suspect was arrested on 10 December 2021, after DNA evidence linked him to two rape cases that were reported in Wolmaransstad.
He further said in the first case reported on Sunday evening, 4 June 2017, the court heard evidence that a woman (27) was walking back from Extension 15 to Extension 10, when she was overpowered by two men. Naidoo added that the suspects robbed her of money, forced her to a nearby house and raped her.
“In the second case, reported on Sunday evening, 7 November 2018, a woman (21) went to a nearby shop when she was overpowered by two men who threatened her with a knife. She was taken to a nearby toilet, where she was raped.
“The accused, Letlhogonolo Luckyboy Modisapodi (30) was found guilty by the Wolmaransstad Regional Court and sentenced to two life imprisonments. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000,” he said.
Naidoo further said in a separate case, Buru Mopalami (29) was found guilty by the Schweizer Reneke Regional Court and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the rape of a woman (27). He added that the court heard evidence that the victim was visiting a local tavern in Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke, when the convict threatened her with a knife and forcibly took her to his house, where he raped her.
“Buru was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearm Control Act. In a third, unrelated incident reported in Phokeng during February 2025, George William Nkedi (54), a former employee of the Rustenburg Municipality’s infrastructure department, was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment in terms of Section 271(1)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court.
“This sentence follows after he was found in possession of suspected stolen copper cables belonging to the Rustenburg Local Municipality. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000,” said Naidoo.
He commended the investigating officers, prosecutors and all other role players for their collaborative efforts in securing these convictions and sentences.
The Guardian 