Africa-Press – South-Africa. A 33-year-old serial rapist has been sentenced to two life terms after pleading guilty to raping several women, including a minor.
The incidents took place between 2016 and 2018.
Sibocesso Cossa appeared in the Mpumalanga High Court in Nelspruit on Friday, where he was sentenced for his two-year crime spree in the district of Tonga in the areas surrounding KaMaqhekeza, Block C and Naas.
The NPA said Cossa would accost his victims with firearm or knife, rob them of their belongings and then rape them.
“One of the victims was a minor when the incident happened, while the other victim was gang-raped,” NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said.
“In one of the incidents which happened on 16 May 2016, Cossa accosted a 15-year-old minor girl, took her to a place behind KaMaqhekeza Mall, robbed her of her cellphone and raped her.
“Cossa continued with his rape spree, and on 19 August 2016, he and his unknown accomplices attacked a 23-year-old who was coming from church. They threatened her with a knife, took her into her neighbour’s yard and gang-raped her. Then they fled the scene with the victim’s cellphone.”
Cossa was eventually arrested in October 2018 after raping a 28-year-old woman at her house in Naas. The victim was able to identify him, which led to his arrest.
He was also linked to the other crimes through DNA evidence.
During sentencing proceedings, prosecutor advocate Themba Lusenga argued the court could not deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence for the rape charges.
“The State further handed in victim impact statements compiled by the victims and facilitated by court preparation officer Nomfundo Mokoena.”
The impact statements detailed how the victims were left traumatised and heartbroken.
The court subsequently sentenced Cossa to two life sentences as well as an addition 50 years behind bars.
“The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence and commends the good work done by the prosecution and the police in securing this conviction.
“Sentences of this nature are indicative of our dedication to fighting the scourge of gender-based violence,” Nyuswa said.
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