The Molopo Sexual Offences Regional Court in the North West handed down three life sentences to serial rapist, Fezile Zozi, and one life imprisonment to Tebogo Matshidiso. Picture: File
The Molopo Sexual Offences Regional Court in the North West handed down three life sentences to serial rapist, Fezile Zozi, and one life imprisonment to Tebogo Matshidiso last Friday.
Zozi went on a criminal spree in Lomanyaneng between 2010 and 2023, where he raped three women, including a 15-year-old.
The convict’s modus operandi involved targeting his victims under the pretence of volunteering to accompany them to their homes after a meet up, where he ended up raping them.
Zozi first sexually violated the 15-year-old in the evening in August 2010, after dragging the girl into the bushes when he pretended to accompany her home.
According to the SAPS, Zozi continued his predatory ways when he met and raped an18-year-old woman in August 2021, who was on her way home shortly after midnight.
The convict was out on bail at the time of the crime.
Zozi targeted another victim, where he told the woman she was bewitched and claimed he would heal her. The victim was raped next to a road after refusing Zozi’s proposal.
He furthermore sexually violated a 38-year-old woman in September 2023 in the early morning after pretending to be a prophet. Zozi attempted to apply prophetic practices upon the victim.
“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 the SAPS.
State prosecutor Advocate Kefense Diseko highlighted the severity and prevalence of the offences, arguing that the accused violated the victims’ constitutional rights.
“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,” said the SAPS.
In the same light, Matshidiso (31) and his accomplice gang raped a woman in October 2021 in Bodibe Village.
The victim was reportedly hitch-hiking when she was offered a lift by two unknown male occupants.
The crime occurred when the passenger undressed and raped the victim.
The SAPS stated the victim was again sexually violated by the driver when the car apparently broke down.
“They were still there when a male arrived and allowed the victim use his cellphone to call her parents. Subsequent to investigation and through assistance of the witness (the man who allowed the victim to use his cellphone), the accused was identified and arrested,” said SAPS.
The second suspect is yet to be arrested.
The court slammed three individuals with nine life sentences in two days.
The director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, and North West acting provincial commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, welcomed the sentences.
“While the 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,” they said.
They further applauded the investigating team that ensured the apprehension of criminals who should be removed from society.
The Star
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