A convicted rapist was sentenced to life imprisonment for this crime by the regional court at Standerton in Mpumalanga on Thursday.
The court also imposed an additional sentence of 35 years on Vika Jeremiah Shabangu (34) after he was found guilty on another charge of rape and two charges of aggravated robbery and theft.
Shabangu raped an 18-year-old girl in 2015 when she attended a family gathering at her aunt’s house.
According to col. Donald Mdhluli, police spokesperson, at the time the victim moved away from the party to answer a call. That’s when Shabangu suddenly appeared. The court heard how he forced the victim to a remote area and raped him.
He was at large for years before he was arrested on charges of aggravated robbery and burglary.
“After his arrest, the police discovered that he is also the rape suspect they have been looking for for a long time. His cap was then riveted,” says Mdhluli.
In addition to the life sentence for rape, Shabangu must also serve 15 years for each of the two charges of aggravated robbery, and five years for burglary.
