Staff Reporter
The Brandfort Magistrates Court has sentenced Thabiso Isaac Pune to life imprisonment after he was convicted of rape, sexual assault and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Magistrate Dumisani Sisusa sentenced Pune to life imprisonment for rape, 12 months for sexual assault and 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said Pune, also known as “Gunman” in Majwemaseu township, committed the first offence when he broke into the house of a 26-year-old woman at around 2300 hours and raped her three times.
“The complainant woke up and found Pune next to her bed. She was alone in the house at the time,” said Shuping in a statement.
“Pune threatened her with a knife and instructed her to take off her clothes.
“He first raped her in her bedroom and ordered her to take a bath after the incident.
“He raped her again after she took a bath, twice, in the living room and in her parents’ bedroom.
“He took a DVD player and told her that he will come back later with his friends to take a microwave.”
In the second incident, Pune saw a 25-year-old woman walking home with her friends at around 1400 hours.
The complainant knew Pune because they were once in a relationship.
Pune grabbed her arm and tried to undress her but she managed to get away and reported the matter.
Pune was arrested and he was linked to the first incident by DNA.
In court, Pune’s defence was that he never met the complainant and that she was fabricating the story.
State prosecutor Advocate Beverley Jantjies handed in a victim impact statement in which the first complainant stated that she only sleeps during the day because she is scared to sleep at night considering that the incident happened at night.
Jantjies said the accused must have observed the first complainant to a point he got to know that she was alone on the night of the incident.
She further stated that Pune had no respect for women because he not only violated the first complainant but he raped her in her parents’ bedroom.
Pune will effectively serve life imprisonment after the magistrate ordered the sentences to run concurrently.