Four Life Terms And 80 Years Imprisonment For Serial Rapist
The High Court of South Africa: The Middelburg High Court convicted and sentenced Shaggy David Mgidi( 43), from Ga- Phaahla in Siyabuswa, to four life terms and eighty years imprisonment, for four counts of rapes, five counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and one count of housebreaking. All these offences were committed in Siyabuswa, in the District of KwaMhlanga, where the accused would terrorize the community, rape them and rob them of their belongings, like cell phones and clothes. His victims were raped more than once and they did not know the perpetrator.
In one incident which happened on 13 March 2009, the complainant was sitting with her boyfriend in the park, when the accused emerged. He commanded the boyfriend to take off his clothes, including the underwear and threw them over the fence. He then walked away with the woman to the bushes and raped her more than once. Again, in October 2013, the accused attacked another victim, who was sitting with his male friend in a vehicle. He threatened the male friend, chased him away, and then raped the woman repeatedly.
The accused was arrested in 2015, for robbery, the DNA swaps were taken and were subsequently linked to the rapes he committed previously. Adv. Frieda Tshwane led evidence of a forensic expert, which confirmed the incidents. Victim Impact Statements were presented, which detailed that the victims are now living in fear, and are still haunted by the incident. Addressing the court, for a minimum sentence, Adv. Tshwane explained that there is a huge outcry by society about gender-based violence, which is a serious scourge and needs to be addressed.
Judge Mankge sentenced the accused to life imprisonment, on each count of rape, fifteen years imprisonment for each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for housebreaking. The court declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm. The Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Nkebe Kanyane expressed pleasure at the collaborative work done by the team involved in securing the conviction.” Criminals who commit similar offences, cannot be left roaming around the streets while women are living in fear”.
Issued by,
Monica Nyuswa
DPP Mpumalanga
Regional Spokesperson
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