Some of his victims suffered depression, and , and two lost their sight after he lures, assaulted, and raped them. Cold-hearted and unremorseful serial rapist, Katlego Mabote from Soweto has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Gauteng High court. Judge Mogotsi presiding over the matter says he will make an example of the South African Police Service (SAPS) members who assisted the accused in threatening the victims to withdraw their cases because they were paid a bribe.

Katlego Mabote a former transport operator from Mofolo in Soweto was arrested following a spate of rape incidents that happened between 2007 to 2014. The 42-year-old was popularly known as "success" and owned a few taxis that transported school children and staff. One of his taxis which he drove, he used as an instrument to kidnap women in Rockville and Mofolo.

The court heard that six of his victims were lured into boarding his taxi and thereafter he threatened them and assaulted them viciously before taking them to his place where they would be raped. Some of the victims were unconscious because of the assault and the others were raped repeatedly in the presence of other witnesses and co-perpetrators whom the police have not yet arrested. Mabote who wasn't a first- was arrested for another rape incident in 2014 when six more dockets were reactivated. These were rape cases reported at Moroka South African Police Service (SAPS) and had been closed after complainants were said to have filed withdrawal statements.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS
SAPS investigation officer Captain Rudzane Malange explains that upon investigation he discovered that the complainants in those dockets were threatened not to proceed with their cases, with one of them telling him that a female officer from Moroka had visited her home to tell her not to pursue the rape case. Malange says that in some cases, the signatures were forged whilst in others, statements were altered, and DNA statements were tampered with.

Senior State prosecutor Advocate Shubnum Singh argued that the accused was remorseless and re-victimized the complainants by delaying the cases since 2015. "He did this through various interlocutory applications, amongst them recusals of the prosecutors and Judges, refusal to attend court, refusal to travel with other prisoners and various other demands." She further submitted victim impact statements wherein the complainants detailed how they were threatened and bullied by the accused to withdraw the charges.

THE VICTIMS
Two of the victims were visually impaired because of the assault whilst attempting suicide and were depressed. Relying on the report of the criminologist, Lt Colonel Myburgh, and Advocate Singh argued that the accused had held the justice system to ransom.  "The accused wanted to show how powerful he was by flaunting his money. He wanted the victims to feel that he was in charge and untouchable. The police played into the hands of the accused by filing withdrawal statements purporting to be from the complainants, allowing the accused to continue with his reign of terror. He had friends amongst police officers, correctional services, and certain other government departments". In arguing for multiple life sentences Advocate Singh says that the scourge of rape and GBV continues to engulf this country. Judge Mogotsi ordered that investigations about the role played by some police officers in trying to prevent the wheels of justice from turning must be reopened. TheOfficer who was also instructed to investigate the 2007 Moroka docket where Mabote was charged with raping a 14-year-old minor and was sentenced to a fine of R6000 or three years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of sexual violation.