The police’s forensic DNA results aided the Free State High Court in its sentencing of a serial rapist to spend the rest of his life in prison. The accused Letela Makhetha (35) was sentenced on Wednesday (19/04) to 117 years’ imprisonment, Bloemfontein police confirmed.
The harsh sentence pertains to violent crimes committed against women and children. The court found him guilty on charges of housebreaking with an intent to rape, assault, and raping several women.
Sgt. Ikobeng Hlubi, police spokesperson for the Mangaung Metro, said Makhetha’s rape spree dating back 2007.
“He was arrested in the vicinity of Mangaung in February last year. Forensic DNA results positively linked him to about 12 rape cases which were all registered at the Bloemspruit police station for investigation. Sentencing was in accordance with the old Sexual Offences Act 2016 amendment, where the maximum sentencing for rape was 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment,” said Hlubi. She said in addition to the harsh sentence, Makhetha’s name will also be placed on the Sexual Offences Register and he will never be allowed to work with children in the future.
Hlubi said the accused evaded the police for the duration of his reign of criminal terror.
According to investigations, Makhetha’s modus operandi was to break into houses of the victims while they were asleep and thereafter rape them.
“In other cases, he would follow the victims on their way to work, overpower them and thereafter rape them,” said Hlubi. She said some of the victims Makhetha preyed upon included minors. These victims ranged in ages between 12 and 45 years.
Hlubi said Makhetha’s conviction and lengthy sentencing was the culmination of investigation by Capt. Bez Bezuidenhout from the Free State Provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigation team, which falls under the Mangaung Family Violence and Child Protection and Sexual Offices unit.
