Lonwabo Solontsi, one of South Africa’s worst serial rapists in recorded history, was yesterday declared a dangerous criminal and jailed for an indefinite period.
The 29-year-old, who pleaded guilty to raping 39 women over five years – including a child and several teenagers – will be 54 before he is allowed to approach the court again for reconsideration of his sentence.
And when it reconsiders his sentence in 25 years time, the court will take into account that a panel of psychiatrists deemed Solontsi to be a “pervasive and non-remedial psychopath with a high risk of violent re-offending behaviour”.
With that in mind, the court can then confirm that he should face further time in jail or be released.
If he had not been sentenced to an indeterminate period in prison as a dangerous criminal, Judge Thamie Beshe yesterday indicated she would have had no qualms in sentencing him to 12 life terms plus 706 years for 39 rapes, seven counts of robbery, 14 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 12 counts of housebreaking with intent to rape and three with intent to rape and rob.
“He will no doubt go down in history as one of the worst and most prolific serial rapists in this country,” said Beshe.
She said Solontsi would have faced life in prison and would only have been eligible for parole after 25 years. Similarly, Solontsi should not be brought before court again for reconsideration of his sentence before the same amount of time had expired.
Solontsi is already serving time in jail for two other rapes, bringing his total over five years to 41.
He raped women wherever he lived, studied or worked. Over five years he chalked up victims in his home town of Willowvale, Dutywa, Bathurst, King William’s Town and Alice in the Eastern Cape, Stellenbosch in the Western Cape and Rustenburg in the North West.
Solontsi smiled at Beshe during parts of her judgment, particularly when she referred to the effect of the rapes on some of his victims. She said the court had been given a glimpse of the destruction, heartbreak and devastation caused by the rapes when some of the victims testified.
Marriages and relationships were devastated and unwanted pregnancies and abortions had resulted. Some testified to flashbacks, fear of men, nightmares, disrupted studies, and suicidal thoughts.
“What did the victims of his actions do to deserve the brutality he meted out?”
Beshe also ordered that his name be included on the national register of sexual offenders.
Investigating officer Sergeant Sizwe Gaika, who was central to putting together the pieces of the puzzle that led to Solontsi’s arrest, said he was relieved it was over.
Senior state Advocate Nickie Turner, who is renowned for her successful prosecutions in rape cases, quietly slipped out of court for a celebratory cigarette.
Solontsi’s lawyer, Legal Aid South Africa’s Helen McCallum applied for leave to appeal against the sentence . However, Beshe dismissed the application, saying there was no chance another court would sentence him differently.
‘Psychopathic’ rapist jailed ‘indefinitely’
The 29-year-old, who pleaded guilty to raping 39 women over five years – including a child and several teenagers – will be 54 before he is allowed to approach the court again for reconsideration of his sentence.
And when it reconsiders his sentence in 25 years time, the court will take into account that a panel of psychiatrists deemed Solontsi to be a “pervasive and non-remedial psychopath with a high risk of violent re-offending behaviour”.
With that in mind, the court can then confirm that he should face further time in jail or be released.
If he had not been sentenced to an indeterminate period in prison as a dangerous criminal, Judge Thamie Beshe yesterday indicated she would have had no qualms in sentencing him to 12 life terms plus 706 years for 39 rapes, seven counts of robbery, 14 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 12 counts of housebreaking with intent to rape and three with intent to rape and rob.
“He will no doubt go down in history as one of the worst and most prolific serial rapists in this country,” said Beshe.
She said Solontsi would have faced life in prison and would only have been eligible for parole after 25 years. Similarly, Solontsi should not be brought before court again for reconsideration of his sentence before the same amount of time had expired.
Solontsi is already serving time in jail for two other rapes, bringing his total over five years to 41.
He raped women wherever he lived, studied or worked. Over five years he chalked up victims in his home town of Willowvale, Dutywa, Bathurst, King William’s Town and Alice in the Eastern Cape, Stellenbosch in the Western Cape and Rustenburg in the North West.
Solontsi smiled at Beshe during parts of her judgment, particularly when she referred to the effect of the rapes on some of his victims. She said the court had been given a glimpse of the destruction, heartbreak and devastation caused by the rapes when some of the victims testified.
Marriages and relationships were devastated and unwanted pregnancies and abortions had resulted. Some testified to flashbacks, fear of men, nightmares, disrupted studies, and suicidal thoughts.
“What did the victims of his actions do to deserve the brutality he meted out?”
Beshe also ordered that his name be included on the national register of sexual offenders.
Investigating officer Sergeant Sizwe Gaika, who was central to putting together the pieces of the puzzle that led to Solontsi’s arrest, said he was relieved it was over.
Senior state Advocate Nickie Turner, who is renowned for her successful prosecutions in rape cases, quietly slipped out of court for a celebratory cigarette.
Solontsi’s lawyer, Legal Aid South Africa’s Helen McCallum applied for leave to appeal against the sentence . However, Beshe dismissed the application, saying there was no chance another court would sentence him differently.
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