27 years old Thabang Matjeke from Soshanguve gets a life term for rape

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Victims of rape and assault have finally got their justice following a guilty judgement at the Pretoria North Regional Court which sentenced Thabang Matjeke to life in prison.

The 27 years old from Soshanguve in Tshwane was convicted on three counts being rape, kidnapping and assault on two young girls aged 18 and 19.

The court heard during a testimony that Matjeke’s first victim, the 19 years old, was walking from the shops in the early evening when she met him. He then forcefully grabbed and dragged her to the nearest shack where he raped and assaulted her.

NPA Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said that the incident is said to have occurred on 30 October 2018 around 21H00 in Soshanguve.

He continued to roam around the streets despite the gruesome act he had committed after also threatening the victim and told her to not tell anyone about what had happened.

Almost a year later, Matjeke found another victim at a shopping mall.

“On 12 April 2019, the 18-year-old girl had gone to Wonderpark shopping mall where she met with Matjeke and exchanged numbers. The following day he asked her to meet him at Soshanguve crossing. They met and after spending time together at around 17h00 in the evening, Matjeke asked the girl to accompany him to his house to lock up so he can walk her home.”

“Upon arrival, Matjeke locked the doors and began to assault her. He tied her feet and hands with a cable tie and proceeded to rape her, multiple times and throughout the night. The following day, while Matjeke had gone out the girl managed to untie herself and called for help through the window. She asked for a phone to call her mother who in turn called the girls’ uncle who stayed close to where the girl was kept to go rescue her.”

Mahanjana added that Matjeke was arrested after the uncle had spotted and apprehended him upon his return to the place where he had kidnapped the teenager.

Presiding over the case was Phanuel Motiang who convicted Matjeke of seven counts of rape, two counts of assault and kidnapping and of an 18 and 19-year-old girls, on 13 April 2021.

He had been in custody since his arrest in April 2019.