RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - The Rustenburg Regional Court has sentenced 43-year-old Michael Segale to three life sentences for rape.
Segale was also additionally sentenced to five years imprisonment for escape from lawful custody.
Between 2012 and 2017, Segale raped three young girls, as well as a 19-year-old woman in Boitekong and Lethabong outside Rustenburg.
In the first incident that happened in Soviet Section, Lethabong in 2012, the 19-year-old victim was walking with her younger sister from the shop when they came across an unknown man who asked them to accompany him to go fetch his mother's medicine. Along the way in the bushes, the suspect grabbed the victim and rape her and thereafter fled the scene.
In July 2017, the Segale raped the other two victims in two separate incidents. The one girl, 11-years-old at that stage, was sent to the shop at Boitekong Extension 8. The girl and her younger brother's paths then crossed with that of Segale. He asked them to accompany him to fetch his belongings somewhere and he told them he did not really know the way there. As they approached a bushy area, the suspect grabbed the victim and took off her clothes. He ordered the younger brother to close his eyes and then raped the girl.
The third and fourth victims, both the 13-year-old, were playing in the street when they were called by an unknown man. The suspect asked them for directions and insisted they walk with him to fetch his sewing machine and some clothes. As they approached bushes, he threatened them and tied one with a cloth and raped her. He then proceeded to rape the other girl as well before he fled the scene.
Police investigations identified Segale as the possible suspect.
He was by then already convicted on other charges and was later linked to the crimes through through DNA.
In 2018, while Segale was in court, he escaped through the bathroom window after he asked to use the toilet. He was later apprehended in Seraleng.
The accused was sentenced as follows:
Escape from lawful custody - five years imprisonment.
Rape of two 13-year-olds - 2 x life imprisonments;
Rape of an 11-year-old - life imprisonment and;
Rape of a 19-year-old - 15 years imprisonment;
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the investigating Officer, Sergeant Obakeng Rasego of Rustenburg family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit and all those involved in securing the successful prosecution.
