Man jailed for 30 years for raping three teenagers

Zuko Komisa

A 28-year-old man in Limpopo has been sentenced to an effective 30 years in prison for the rape of three teenagers.
Freddy Moraka Modibedi was convicted of multiple counts of kidnapping, robbery, and rape, which occurred in separate incidents in September 2022.
The Polokwane High Court ordered that the sentences for the individual crimes would run concurrently, resulting in the lengthy prison term.

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 30 years in prison for the rape of three teenagers in Limpopo, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed.

On Tuesday, the Polokwane High Court sentenced Freddy Moraka Modibedi for the attacks, which took place in separate incidents between 3 and 17 September 2022.

The victims, all girls aged between 15 and 17, were assaulted in the Mmotong Ga-Mabotja, Mpone, and Boratapelo areas.

Modibedi’s method involved approaching unknown girls, threatening them with a knife, robbing them of their belongings, and then raping them.

The cases were reported to police in Seshego and Matlala, with the investigation led by Sergeant Nation Teffo of the Seshego Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. After a year-long search, Modibedi was arrested and positively linked to the crimes.

He was convicted on multiple counts, including kidnapping, robbery, and rape. The court ordered that all sentences would run concurrently, resulting in an effective 30-year term. However, five years of the sentence have been suspended for a five-year period, on the condition that he is not convicted of any further sexual offences.

The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the investigating officer and all involved for their efforts in bringing justice to the victims and their families.