By Everson Luhanga
He raped, robbed and assaulted his victims without mercy — from a 15-year-old girl to a 65-year-old pensioner.
Johannes Ontsheketse Tshabile, 43, has been sentenced to 11 life terms on nine rape charges and a cumulative 363 years in prison by Judge Tebogo Djadje in the High Court’s North West division, sitting at the Klerksdorp Regional Court.
The convicted rapist, who was on the list of the most wanted criminals in the North West, was also sentenced on charges of attempted murder, theft, robbery, and assault among a slew of others.
Henry Mamothame, spokesperson for the North West division of the National Prosecuting Authority, said Tshabile pleaded not guilty to all 65 charges.
Tshabile’s conviction is the result of incidents that took place in Wolmaransstad in the district of Maquassi between December 2012 and May 2018, in which he accosted unsuspecting women on the streets.
“He would then drag them to nearby fields, threaten them with a knife, rob them of their belongings and rape them before fleeing the scene,” Mamothame said.
“In some instances, he would strangle, stab with a knife, and assault with bricks and other objects before robbing and raping his victims.
“He would in some instances, accost couples and attack their male counterparts and assault them before robbing and raping their partners after they had fled the scene,” he said.
Mamothame said among Tshabile’s victims were a 15-year-old girl and a 65-year-old woman.
It was also revealed in court that an unidentified accomplice of Tshabile’s had participated in some of the assaults. That person is yet to be arrested.
Tshabile, who was linked to the offences through DNA specimens, was arrested in 2019 following an intensive police investigation.
After he was denied bail following his arrest, Tshabile managed to escape from the Wolmaransstad Police Station. He was helped by a police officer but was later rearrested and the officer was dismissed from duty and criminally charged. That matter is still pending.
Prosecutor advocate Riekie Krause described Tshabile as remorseless and having no regard for women and children.
She urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, considering the emotional, physical, and psychological trauma suffered by victims at the hands of Tshabile.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, and the North West Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded the investigating officer, Sergeant Pule Morake, for ensuring that the victims were afforded the justice they deserve.
Pictured above: Johannes Ontsheketse Tshabile (top); Sergeant Pule Morake, and advocate Riekie Krause.
Source: NPA
