The Regional Court in Tzaneen has handed down a momentous verdict, sentencing 37-year-old Mampuru Clement Mamphoku to three life terms in prison. The conviction comes after he was found guilty of the heinous crimes of raping two minor girls, aged 12 and 13, in separate incidents that occurred in the Modjadjiskloof Policing area just outside Tzaneen.
The court heard chilling details of the first incident that unfolded on May 15, 2016, around 5:45 PM. The Limpopo Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says, “Mamphoku, driven by sinister intent, brazenly broke into a house moments after its owner had left to fetch food from her mother’s home nearby.”
“Mamphoku callously carried the victim to a bedroom, where he committed then horrendous act of rape. When the victim’s mother came back, she saw her child on the bed, feeling terrified,” said Ledwaba.
The young child courageously shared the traumatic experience, leading to an immediate police alert and the subsequent opening of a rape case.
“On July 30, 2019, around 9:30 PM, in a disturbingly similar incident, Mamphoku forcibly entered another residence in darkness. Inside, a 13-year-old girl slept with her siblings.” Added Ledwaba.
“Mamphoku grabbed a child and tried to choke her while asking her about Grandma’s money.” Ledwaba continue”He then took her to the kitchen and raped her.”
The accused was subsequently arrested after he was positively linked to both incidents through DNA evidence.
His bail application was successfully opposed until the case was trialed at Tzaneen Regional Court, whereby he was found guilty on all the charges.
The successful conviction is attributed to the combined efforts of the Tzaneen FCS and the dedicated work carried out by Investigating Officer Sergeant Khethathe Enock.
While the scars left by these traumatic incidents may never fully heal, the convictions and sentencing in this case offer a measure of closure and a chance for the survivors to rebuild their lives.