The high court in Polokwane on Thursday handed down lengthy prison terms to men who are accused of an attack at a farm in Limpopo.
The farm attack is said to have taken place at the Mogwadi policing precinct on August 3.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the court heard that four suspects stormed a farm in Draaifontein and found an elderly couple inside the house.
“They assaulted an 80-year-old farm owner until he became unconscious. Later, two suspects raped the farm owner’s 65-year-old wife,” said Ledwaba.
“Thereafter, the assailants took one hunting rifle and a pistol before fleeing the scene with the victim’s Nissan Navara bakkie.
“Police were alerted about the incident and immediately commenced with a manhunt for the suspects until they were spotted driving along the Westenburg traffic circle outside Polokwane.”
Upon realising that they were being followed by the cops, the suspects opened fire forcing the police to retaliate. One of the suspects was killed in the shootout and his accomplice was arrested.
The duo, Aaron Mabena and Nicolus Tlou, pleaded guilty. Mabena, 22, was handed a 10-year sentence for house robbery, attempted murder and theft of firearms.
His accomplice Tlou, 33, was convicted of rape, house robbery, attempted murder and theft of firearms. He was sentenced to life in jail.
According to Ledwaba, preliminary investigations linked the deceased suspect and Tlou to the rape of the farm owner’s wife.
Accused number three Christopher Mokgomutsi, 34, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17 in the same court.
He faces charges of house robbery, attempted murder, and theft of firearms.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
