Six finally sentenced after seven year wait

Esrom Rakhokha, 29, Dennilton Mamitja, 32, Ephraim Mammburu, 30, Edward Sioga, 33 and the Khadammbi twins, 28, had to wait for seven years until the High Court sentenced them last week Friday, September 8.

The six suspects, all from Maebane, west of Makhado, were arrested by the Tshilwavhusiku police on May 13, 1998, following a rape that had taken place the previous day in the same area. According to the statement from the police, the suspects repeatedly raped a 17-year-old girl.

All suspects were released into the custody of their parents after they lied about their ages. However, they were re-arrested after they failed to appear in court on a later date. More charges were also laid against them after they had allegedly assaulted and sodomised other inmates in different prison cells.

Following several appearances in different courts, the six suspects were finally found guilty by the Sibasa Sexual Offences court on August 11; their cases were postponed to August 28, for sentencing.

However, their cases were postponed again to last week Friday when acting Judge Ephraim Makgoba sentenced Mamitja and Mammburu to ten years imprisonment while Sioga, Rakhokha and the Khadammbi twins were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

News - Date: 29 September 2006

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