Convicted rapist: Novice Mathebula.
Thohoyandou Regional Court on Wednesday 18 January 2023 sentenced a 26 year old man to life in prison for rape and murder of a teenage girl in Giyani on Christmas day of 2020.
Novice Mathebula was found guilty and convicted of raping and killing a 15 year-old girl. The court heard that the Mathebula met the victim, who knew him when she came with friends at Mavalani village to celebrate Christmas day.
He then offered to buy her chips but later when they returned to their place of residence in Bon’wani village, he followed them and grabbed the victim.
He then forced her into a liquor establishment where he offered to buy her liquor. The victim declined and pleaded with the man to let her go but he refused and instead forcibly took her to the nearby bushes at knifepoint, while reminding her that he bought her the chips earlier.
On arrival, the he raped the defenceless girl and thereafter strangled her. He dumped the body in a dam and put a huge rock on top in an attempt to cover the heinous crime.
The body was found by a fisherman who immediately alerted the police. Detective Constable Emmanuel Fulufhelo Nndwambi was assigned to investigate the case and positively linked Mathebula with the case.
Mathebula was traced and arrested in Protea Glen, South of Johannes in Gauteng province with assistance of the Johannesburg Metro police.
He appeared in court on several occasions in an attempt to get bail but the investigating officer was able to oppose bail until he was ultimately sentenced.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the hefty sentence and commends the investigating officer for the diligent work.
