MOPANI – Patrick Shaniseka Mdaka (37) of Mavele Village in the Nwamitwa area, who is also widely known as "Shakes," will spend the remaining part of his life in prison. His murder and rape cases were finalised in the Tzaneen High Court last Friday.

The incident relating to the case took place at Nkowankowa Township on March 16, 2001 at about 22:00. The court heard that on the day of the incident the deceased Maureen Shisinge (16) and Nkhensani Ndou (22) were walking in an open space next to the township.

They were on their way home. The two were close friends. Along the way they met the accused. The court further heard that the accused grabbed Maureen and pulled her into the nearby bushes where he raped her. He later throttled her to death.

Nkhensani managed to escape when the accused grabbed Maureen. After raping and killing the girl he left her body lying face down. The accused followed Nkhensani after the ordeal. He managed to find her in the other street of the township.

Nkhensani was also raped before she was throttled to death. He dumped her body in the bushes. The accused went into hiding for several months after the incidents. He was arrested in Gauteng after police received a tip off from concerned residents.

His case was postponed several times in both the magistrate's and regional courts before it was referred to the High Court. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for each of the two counts of murder. His third life sentence was a punishment for raping the two girls.

In a statement released by the Mopani SAPS earlier this week, the Area Commissioner Muladelo Raphulu appreciated the sentences imposed on the accused saying that they would serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals. The statement indicates that the sentence will send a clear message to society that there is no place for criminals in the Mopani Area.