A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 25 years imprisonment for the murder and rape of his aunt. Gopolang Moilwa was found guilty and subsequently sentenced by the Atamelang Regional Court in North West for the crime he committed in 10 October 2021.

RAPE AND MURDER 

According to the police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, Gopolang killed his aunt Jane Molehe after a night of drinking. "During the time of the incident, Gopolang was drinking alcohol with his aunt and her boyfriend at a local shebeen in Kgothu Section at Setlagole village. On their way home, an argument ensued between Gopolang and the aunt's boyfriend. That was after Gopolang attempted to rape his aunt. The boyfriend ran away after the convict threatened to stab him with a knife," she said.

THE ARREST AND SUBSEQUENT SENTENCE

After the boyfriend ran off, Gopolang raped Molehe and strangled her. "Her body was found in the bushes the following day after being spotted by passers-by who alerted the police. After an intensive investigation, Gopolang was arrested and charged with rape and murder. He has been behind bars ever since his arrest in October 2021," Funani said. Gopolang was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in jail for rape and 15 years jail term for murder. North West police commissionaire, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the sentence. Kwena also applauded Setlagole Crime Investigation Services, especially the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Mbulelo Isake, and all other role players including the prosecution for securing the sentence.