Brutal rapist in jail for life

Two young men, Peter Mathebula (21), of Foskor settlement in the Phalaborwa area, and Lucky Dankie Dzambukeri (23), of Mashinyane village, received long jail sentences in the Tzaneen High Court last Friday.

Mathebula will spend the next 15 years behind bars. His co-accused, Dzambukeri, was sentenced to two life sentences for rape and murder.

The incident which relates to the case took place during the night of October 26, 2002, shortly after midnight. The court heard that, during the night of the incident, the deceased, Maite Madika (18), was walking in the street. She met the accused. The court further heard that the duo grabbed the deceased and took turns in raping her repeatedly. As if that was not enough to demonstrate their cruelty, the young men later murdered the young girl and dumped her body in the street.

Mathebula was only found guilty on the charge of rape while Dzambukeri was found guilty of rape and murder, hence his two life sentences. The police in the Mopani area have praised the justice system, saying the sentences will send a clear message to criminals to be that crime does not pay.

News - Date: 06 April 2007

Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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