Latest news with #TrialNationalProsecutingAuthority
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Security officer sentenced to life for raping teen in Roodepoort
The sentence comes as country commemorates women's month. A 26-year-old security officer tasked with the protection of a residential complex has been sentenced to life in prison for the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg. The sentence comes as the country commemorates Women's Month. Mpho Antonio Lebona appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates' Court, where the sentence was handed down. The teen was raped in Florida in January 2021. Trial National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said during the trial, evidence showed the devastating impact of the crime, with the victim providing a detailed and harrowing account of the assault. 'The accused admitted to being with the victim but claimed their interaction was consensual. However, the Magistrate, Thelma Simpson, dismissed his testimony as entirely false and improbable, convicting him of rape, which led to the subsequent sentence.' Regional Court Prosecutor Claude Payne presented a Victim Impact Statement from the girl and her mother, which highlighted the trauma, particularly the brutal loss of the victim's virginity. 'Citing the nature of the crime against a child, the Magistrate deemed life imprisonment the only befitting sentence, reflecting the court's commitment to justice for such heinous acts,' Mjonondwane said. ALSO READ: Online dating site serial rapist and murderer arrested in Limpopo Rape Mjonondwane added that during her ordeal, the teen managed to escape and immediately reported the incident to other residents, which led to Lebona's arrest at the scene, and he was charged with rape. 'Further investigations by Sergeant Baloyi revealed that the incident occurred on the accused's first day of employment, where he was tasked with overseeing access to the complex's communal washing area. 'The victim, who resided at the complex, approached Lebona to unlock the washing area. The victim's parents were at work during the commission of the offence, the accused locked the door behind them and raped the victim, also inflicting a bite wound on her neck,' Mjonondwane said. ALSO READ: Man masquerading as pastor sentenced to life for raping at least 10 children in KZN
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Farm murder accused says he was forced to feed women's bodies to pigs
During the brief proceedings, a supervisor on the farm turned state witness. One of the three men accused of killing two women and throwing their bodies in a pigsty in Limpopo has told the court he was forced to feed their bodies to pigs. Pig farmer Zackariah Olivier, his co-accused Rudolph de Wet, and Zimbabwean national William Musoro returned to the Polokwane High Court on Monday. Trial National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi said the murder case was postponed to Thursday, 07 August 2025, to afford legal representatives an opportunity to consult and prepare for trial. 'The trial will commence on Monday, 11 August 2025. Accused number three (William Musora) has been moved out from the previous attorneys. Now he is going to be represented by Legal Aid South Africa.' State witness During the brief proceedings on Monday, the 20-year-old De Wet, a supervisor on the farm, turned state witness, and testified that Olivier shot and killed the two women. De Wet is expected to testify that he was 'under duress' when he was forced to throw their bodies into the pig enclosure, according to his lawyer and the state prosecutor. Charges against De Wet are expected to be dropped when he begins his testimony as a state witness. [WATCH] A Limpopo pig farmer, Zacharia Olivier, and his two workers, accused of killing two women and disposing of their bodies in a pigsty, had their trial postponed to Thursday in the High Court in Polokwane. — SABC News (@SABCNews) August 4, 2025 ALSO READ: Pig farm murder case in Limpopo set for trial in August Charges The 50-year-old Musora and the 60-year-old Olivier have yet to enter a plea and remain behind bars. Olivier, De Wet and Musora are facing two counts of murder, attempted murder, defeating the administration of justice, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Musora, who is a Zimbabwean national, faces an additional charge of contravening the Immigration Act. In December, a visibly emotional Olivier shook his head when Magistrate Ntilane Felleng announced the postponement of his bail application, meaning he spent Christmas behind bars. Murder Olivier, De Wet and Musora are accused of killing Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu before dumping their bodies in a pigsty at Onvervaght farm in Sebayeng, outside Polokwane, in August. It is the state's case that Makgato and Ndlovu went to the farm to collect expired food that the pigs were eating. They were then allegedly fatally shot and dumped into the pigsty, where the animals consumed their bodies. ALSO READ: Limpopo pigsty murders: Two accused abandon bid for bail
