RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - The Bafokeng Regional Court in Tlhabane sentenced Tshepo Tshwagong, 31, to three life terms on Wednesday, 8 May 2024. Tshwagong’ sentencing follows his arrest and subsequent linkage with three cases of rape committed between February 2018 and November 2020 in Phokeng and Boitekong.
According to reports, the accused dragged a 29-year-old woman into the bushes, then strangled and raped her on Wednesday evening, 7 February 2018, at Rafreddy Section.
Evidence given in court revealed that Tshwagong also raped his second victim, aged 35, on Friday morning, 4 May 2018, at Seraleng, after dragging her into the bushes and strangling her.
At the time of the incident, the victim was going to work. In the third incident on Monday morning, 11 May 2020, the convicted raped a 32-year-old woman at Rafreddy Section, Phokeng. Similarly, the accused dragged the victim into the bushes, then strangled and raped her. The long arm of the law caught up with the accused on Wednesday, 6 January 2021, for three separate cases of rape and robbery. He was sentenced to two life terms, 20 years imprisonment for rape and 12 years for robbery .
While serving the sentences, he was linked through DNA with the 2018 and 2020 cases. Due to overwhelming evidence, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three life terms.
In aggravating circumstances, the Prosecutor, Advocate Zola Mpayipheli, indicated that Tshwagong is a serial rapist and that he ruthlessly targeted his victims whom he strangled and raped. Count two and three will run concurrently with count one. The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director for Public Prosecution in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, praised the Investigating Officer, Sgt Obakeng Rasego and Advocate Zola Mpayipheli for their diligence and co-operation, which culminated in the successful prosecution and imposing of maximum sentences on the accused.
