A Limpopo man has been convicted for rape and sexual grooming on Monday
The Modimolle regional court convicted Ephraim Malose Motebele on four counts of rape and sexual grooming.
He was sentenced to 30 years for rape and 10 years for sexual grooming.
The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
The Limpopo directorate of public prosecutions spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said that Motebele operated in the Baipeing Phagameng area.
The court heard that Motebele made use of the 15-year-old complainant to lure other young girls between the ages of 9 and 15 since August 28 2017.
Malabi-Dzhangi said Motebele ” would then let them sniff glue and while they were in an intoxicated state, he would take turns raping them”.
He was later arrested on September 17 2017, after one of the victim’s brothers found her “lying in the street”.
“She woke up and pointed the place where she was kept.”
“The police were alerted to the scene and the accused was arrested in his shack with other young girls,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
However, Motebele pleaded not guilty in court but DNA evidence revealed that he was linked to the crimes.
Advocate Doria Keulder Groenewald said sadly that the victims can never forget this incident for the rest of their lives.
