By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexrwporter.co.za
The Pretoria High Court has sentenced Alex Ndleleni Mudau (40) from Brits to one life term and sixty years imprisonment for four counts of rape.
Mudau, who raped four women, was further convicted for four counts of housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
According to Lumka Mahanjana, NPA Regional Spokesperson, Mudau committed these offences between 2008 and 2010 in and around Brits.
He would break into the houses of the complainants and take their belongings and proceed to rape female victims while in possession of dangerous weapons threatening to inflict serious bodily harm.
“Some of the items he took during the house robberies amongst other things were two television sets, four Cellular phone, two DVD players, R100, wallet and handbag.
“One of Mudau’s victims was a policewoman. He broke into her house, took her belongings, tied her up asked for her gun and raped her in front of her two boys, age eight and twelve years old at the time.
“In her Victim Impact Statement, she said after the incident, she became paranoid, it felt like when walking on the street people could see that she was raped especially since she was a policewoman,” Mahanjana.
Mahanjana said the other victim was a woman who had just been dropped off by a taxi on her way home, when Mudau and unknown accomplices approached her, robbed her and Mudau proceeded to rape her.
“Mudau was linked to the offence after he was arrested for the Mooinooi matter which he is currently serving sentence for,” Mahanjana said.
The State Advocate, Juliet Makgwatha argued in aggravation of sentence that the accused has been convicted of a string of very serious offences that are prevalent throughout this country.
He said rape has become a scourge in this country and ought to be punished severely to discourage it.
“These offences are at the core of Gender Based Violence and the victims were targeted simply because they are women.
“The victims were vulnerable first because of their gender and secondly because of their life circumstances. All the victims with the exception of one lived in shacks, the accused could break in with ease,”Makgwatha concluded.
Mahanjana said the National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence and thanked Sgt. Aubrey Ndubane for his dedication in the investigation of the matter.