RUSTENBURG HERALD - TLHABANE/MOGWASE - Two rape accused, Elvis Tause (38) and Edward Molefi Molati (51) were recently sentenced by the Tlhabane and Mogwase Regional Courts respectively.
In the first conviction on Thursday, 27 March, the Tlhabane Regional Court imposed a double life sentence on Elvis Tause (38), for twice raping his landlord’s 13-year-old daughter on the same day in May 2018, in Platinum Village in Phokeng.
The court heard that the victim was home alone, busy preparing food for herself and her sister after school, when the little sister went to play at the neighbour’s house. Consequently, Tause entered the victim’s room during the afternoon, where he overpowered and raped her.
Later the same night at about 20:00, whilst the mother was not home, the victim was woken up by the accused, who posed her with a choice of either being raped herself or him raping her little sister. She chose herself and was raped a second time. The teenager was then threatened not to tell anyone, as Tause said he would kill her. However, the victim showed bravery by going straight to the police station after the ordeal to report the incident. The suspect was arrested shortly after the incident and appeared several times before the Tlhabane Regional Court where he was ultimately found guilty and convicted and sentenced.
In the second conviction before the Mogwase Regional Court on Thursday, 27 March, Edward Molefe Molati (51) was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for rape and arson.
It was reported that in Sun City on Monday, 27 November 2023, the convict overpowered his ex-girlfriend, who was waiting for a bus at a bus top to take her to work in the early morning. The victim was threatened with a knife and dragged to her ex-boyfriend’s nearby house, where she was raped. After the ordeal, Molati paid her R100 and instructed her to catch a taxi to work, but she went straight to the police station to report the incident.
Later the same day at about 16:00, a 61-year-old pensioner was sleeping outside his house. Molati gained entrance into the house and set it ablaze by pouring petrol over it. The victim was woken up by neighbours, who saw the smoke and also reported seeing the convict running from the scene.
Molati was arrested shortly after the incident and bail was successfully opposed. He was remanded in custody until his conviction by the Mogwase Regional Court and being sentenced as follows: On count 1 of rape, 15 years’ imprisonment and on count 2 of arson – 15 years’ imprisonment. The sentences will not run concurrently, meaning he was sentenced to 30 years effective imprisonment.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the sentences, which displayed the responsiveness of the entities towards the fight against gender-based violence. They also commended the work of the Investigating Officers, Captain Isaac Mosweu and Constable Balungile Makaya, as well as the Prosecutors, Sangweni Zimema and Sicelo Moselakgomo.
