A 23-year-old Limpopo man has been sentenced to life for the rape of an 84-year-old woman. The Mahwelereng Regional Court gave Jackson Manamela additional 15 years for housebreaking with the intention to rob and commit robbery and three years for robbery.

ROBBING THE SAME VICTIM TWICE

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the court heard that the accused found the elderly woman cooking outside her shack on 9 May 2022 at Millennium village, outside Mokopane. "He unexpectedly attacked and stabbed the victim with a pair of scissors on the forehead and dragged her into the shack. The victim was robbed of R70 in cash and Sassa card before being raped by the accused who later fled the scene," Ledwaba said. The man was out on bail for robbing the same victim. Ledwaba added that the victim went to the neighbour's house and told them about her ordeal and they called the police and the suspect was arrested after three days. The case was transferred to the Mokopane Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigations and sergeant Ramokone Tinah Matsimbi was assigned to the matter. "Through her dedication and commitment, she ensured that Jackson Manamela was never granted bail after it was discovered that he was out on bail for housebreaking with the intention to steal and commit robbery on 02 December 2019 committed against the same 84-year-old victim," Ledwaba added. 

SENTENCE WELCOMED 

Limpopo police provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the lengthy jail term sentencing meted out to Manamela. All the sentences will run concurrently and the accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.