A notorious criminal was sentenced to five life terms for committing brutal different crimes.

On Friday, The High Court of South Africa in Gauteng sentenced Happy Mukwevho to five life terms plus 222 years imprisonment, on charges of rape, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, housebreaking with intent to rape, attempted robbery, possession of a dangerous weapon and pointing of what is believed to be a firearm.

The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently and declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Phindi Mjonondwane said that in February 2018 and August 2020, the accused began his reign of terror in Diepsloot. 

"Mukwevho committed these offences in the company of his friends. Their mode of operation included breaking into the complainants' places while they were asleep. They used a side cutter to break the chain. They would rape the women and steal money, cellphones and other valuables. 

"One of the complainants was removed from her place and taken to a dumping site where she was raped. Some of the complainants were familiar with the accused. Mukwevho was arrested on 1 November 2021. He was linked by DNA, which was collected from the women who reported the rapes timeously to the police," she said.

Mjonondwane said that when arguing for a harsh sentence, Senior State Advocate Adele De Klerk argued that none of Mukwevho's circumstances were substantial and compelling. 

Mojonondwane said: "He is a hazardous person and should be removed permanently from society."