LOWVELD – Several criminal cases were finalised throughout the Lowveld area last week.

A resident of Lulekani Township, Pocho Mhlongo (20), was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for rape. The case was finalised in the Lulekani Regional court last Thursday.

The incident took place at Matiko Xikaya Village near Phalaborwa Township during the night of 24 June this year. The court heard that during the night of the incident, the accused had assaulted the victim with his fists before raping her. The victim is an 18-year-old girl.

Fanie Sithole (19) and David Shipalana (22), both of Lulekani Township, were sentenced to 8 years and four years in jail respectively, for theft and possession of stolen property. The case was finalised in the same court on the same date.

The incident relating to the case took place at Lulekani Township during the night of 24 June. The court heard that during the night of the incident Sithole broke into the complainant's house and stole a hi-fi set. He then sold it to Shipalana a few days after the incident.

Shipalana was arrested and he revealed to the police that he had bought the hi-fi set from Sithole who was also arrested. Sithole was sentenced to eight years in jail while Shipalana will spend the next four years behind bars.

Lucas Mohale (23) was sentenced to four years in jail for six counts of housebreaking and theft in the Tzaneen Regional court last Friday. The incident took place at the Lemoenfontein Farm near Tzaneen between the 1st and the 15th of last month. The court heard that Mohale stole different goods ranging from cooking pots to clothing from different houses during the said period.