MOPANI – Two young men, Oupa Mmola (21) and Jerry Selepe (28), both from Tours Village, were each sentenced to two life imprisonments and a further 55 years in jail for murder, rape and armed robbery by the Pretoria High Court on Monday.

This follows horrific incidents that took place at Tours Village during the night of October 20, 2000. The court heard that, during the night of the incident, the accused found the deceased, Tiny Mashau (23) and her boyfriend inside a car.

They opened fire at the boyfriend. He fell down and they thought he was dead. They then raped Mashau, one after the other, before killing her. They subsequently drove away in Mashau's boyfriend's car and abandoned it about 20km away from the scene of the incident.

The car was set alight before it was abandoned. The following morning, the accused found Mr Simon Mkantsi (38) riding to church on his bicycle. They blocked his way and robbed him off his bicycle before killing him. The bicycle was recovered during police investigations.

The police arrested the accused a few months after the incidents, following thorough investigations. According to the police statement, community members played a significant role in the arrest of the two men.

The case was postponed several times in both the Tzaneen Regional Court and the Tzaneen High Court, before it was finally transferred to the Pretoria High Court.

In a statement that was released by the Mopani police this week, they praised the justice system for what they described as "a job well done" saying the sentences will serve as a deterrent to brutal murderers-to-be.