A Johannesburg man was sentenced on Tuesday to 32 life terms plus an additional 270 years in jail.
The advocacy group, Women and Men Against Child Abuse, WMACA, said that Sinja Mabitsela pleaded guilty to 23 counts of rape, five counts of compelled rape, 17 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and two counts of kidnapping.
WMACA spokesperson, Miranda Jordan-Friedman, said Mabitsela was one half of a duo, along with his partner, Josias Mkansi, who had terrorised the community of Alexandra and left residents living in fear as they carried out a rape spree that left numerous “traumatised victims in their wake.”
“When they were finally accosted and had to answer to the multiple charges, Mabitsela pleaded guilty on all the charges against him, and was convicted on a total of 53 counts,” she said.
Mkansi was sentenced in October to 14 life terms and an additional 185 years in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
In handing down sentence, Judge Ingrid Opperman reportedly described Mkansi as a serial sexual predator who made life hell for others.
Jordan-Friedman said that they were happy with the sentence imposed on Mabitsela saying that “between the two serial rapists they received 46 life sentences and 425 years in jail.”
“This sends a strong message to other possible perpetrators that no act of abuse will be tolerated.”
