Serial Rapist Gets Five Life Terms, 42 Years Imprisonment

A man named Katlego Mabote was sentenced to five life terms and 42 years imprisonment by the Johannesburg high court on Tuesday for rape cases in Soweto, South Africa between 2007 and 2014.

Mabote, also known as "Success," owned minibus taxis that transported schoolchildren and employees of a nearby supermarket.

He drove one of the taxis, using it to kidnap women in Rockville and Mofolo.

“Six of his victims were lured into boarding his taxi, threatened with assault, then assaulted viciously, before being taken to his place, where they were raped,” National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said.

“Some were unconscious because of the assaults.

"Some victims were raped repeatedly in the presence of other witnesses and co-perpetrators who are still at large.”

After Mabote was arrested for rape in 2014, six other dockets were reactivated.

"According to her, these cases were reported at Moroka police station but were closed after complainants were said to have filed withdrawal statements.

“Upon investigation, the complainants in those dockets informed the investigating officer (IO), Capt. Rudzane Malange, that they were threatened not to proceed with their cases, with one of them telling him a female officer from Moroka had visited her home to tell her not to pursue the case.

“In some instances, the signatures were forged, while in others statements were altered and DNA evidence tampered with,” Mjonondwane said.

According to her, prosecutor Shubnum Singh argued that the accused showed no remorse and re-victimized the complainants by delaying the case since 2015 through interlocutory applications, which included recusals of prosecutors and judges, refusals to attend court or travel with other prisoners, and other demands.

Singh also submitted victim impact statements in which the complainants detailed how the accused threatened them into dropping the charges.

According to the prosecutor, two of the victims were visually impaired as a result of the assaults, while others had attempted suicide and were depressed.

Singh claimed that Mabote held the justice system hostage, citing a report by criminologist Lt-Col Elmarie Myburgh.

“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,” she said. 

Singh claimed that police aided him by filing purported withdrawal statements from the complainants, allowing the accused to continue his reign of terror.

“He had friends among police officers, correctional services and certain other government departments.

“[The court] ordered that investigations into the roles of some police officers in trying to prevent the wheels of justice from turning must be reopened.”