News24 reports that the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has sentenced a serial rapist from Kagiso to three life terms and 134 years imprisonment.  Percy Matimba Chauke, 36, faced nine counts of rape, six of robbery and one of theft.  

He targeted unemployed women between May 2016 and July 2017 by luring them with promises of job opportunities.  According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, Chauke convinced victims he was taking them to prospective recruiters.  He would direct the women to a veld, where he threatened them with a gun or knife.  He then raped them and robbed them of their cash and belongings.  The state brought forward 10 witnesses to take the stand.  It also called the victims to testify in aggravation of sentence.  The prosecutor argued that the accused committed the crimes over a protracted period, meaning it was not opportunistic but deliberate.  Mjonondwane said the court found that Chauke’s conduct had been inhumane and had stripped the women of their dignity.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sesona Ngqakamba at News24

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