POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has expressed approval of the life sentence imposed by the Thabamoopo Regional Court in Lebowakgomo.
According to South African Police Service, the sentence, handed down on Thursday, 16 November 2023, was against a 32-year-old man convicted of raping a minor.
Case Details
Sello Moleke Mazwi, who was 26 at the time of the crime, was found guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl on 21 January 2017. The incident occurred in Mashite Village, Lebowakgomo. The court learned that the victim was returning from church with a friend when they encountered Mazwi, a known acquaintance. After escorting the friend home, Mazwi assaulted and raped the victim on a secluded road and later threatened her into silence.
Investigative Success
Warrant Officer Phakiso Gololo of the Lebowakgomo Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit led the successful investigation. Lieutenant General Hadebe lauded the FCS Unit’s efforts, noting that the life imprisonment sentence serves as a strong deterrent against child rapists and reinforces the police’s commitment to addressing crimes against women and children.