The Soshanguve Magistrates Court on 31 August 2020 handed three life sentences for each of the rapes committed, 15 years for robbery aggravating, and 4 years for housebreaking and theft to Mr Joseph Tebogo Mhlanga (32), who raped three women in Soshanguve and committed a string of housebreaking and theft.
Captain Mavela Masondo, said Mr Mhlanga and his accomplice who is still on the run, took turns to rape two ladies in Soshanguve in April 2011. “They did that before robbing them of their cell phones and money,” said Captain Masondo.
Furthermore, in June 2011, Mr Mhlanga intercepted a teenager while on her way to school in Soshanguve and raped her.
Captain Masondo said the docket was assigned to Detective Sergeant Abram Naledi Kgosana, from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Tshwane to carry out the investigation.
Detective Sergeant Kgosana, immediately started with the investigation, searching for the suspects and ensuring that he leaves no stone unturned. “I followed all the leads until I eventually arrested Mr Mhlanga on 23 August 2018 and charged him with three counts of rape and robbery,” said Detective Sergeant Kgosana.
The investigating officer found out that Mr Mhlanga was linked to four more cases of housebreaking and theft committed in Soshanguve between July 2013 and June 2014, through the reports from SAPS forensic laboratories.
Mr Mhlanga was convicted on all the charges and will serve three life sentences and 31 years in jail. All the cases were presented at Soshanguve Magistrates Court with all necessary evidence.
