The community of Elsies River have welcomed the long jail term for the serial rapist Moyhdian Pangarker, but is not happy that he was out on parole several times.
Pangarker was convicted last October on 21 out of the 27 charges he faced.
The charges included eight counts of rape of children, sexual assault, sexual exploitation of children, several counts of assault on a child, kidnapping, incest, desecration of a corpse and absconding from parole. His crimes spanned more than 30 years.
Pangarker’s crimes came to light after he was arrested for kidnapping, raping and murdering eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk in 2020.
She was last seen on 7 February 2020 when she went across the street to buy something at a local spaza shop.
Her body was found 12 days after her disappearance in a stormwater drain next to the N1 highway, close to Worcester.
Sentences
Pangarker received nine life sentences, totalling 225 years.
Imraahn Mukkaddam, a community leader from Elsies River, says Pangarker should never have been allowed to kill Tazne, or rape other people.
“He was let out on parole three times before he raped and killed Tazne.
“What kind of government is this that lets rapists back into society after the first sexual assault?
“People like this should never be released back into communities,” says Mukkadam.
The investigation
In the meantime the investigating officer in the case, Capt Martino Plaatjies, says he will sleep better. According to a police statement Plaatjies, an experienced detective with 32 years in the police of which 17 years in the family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) unit started off with the case against Tazne.
“As part of that investigation, the detective delved back into the history of Mohydian Pangarker, where he uncovered an array of offences ranging from assault and indecent assault to kidnapping, multiple counts of rape and murder.
“Pangarker, who had gained the trust of the seven victims, six of whom were children, and family members manipulated and abused the relationship,” reads the statement.
The management of the police in the Western Cape have commended the efforts of Capt Plaatjies as well as the prosecution team for a sterling investigation that ensured that Pangarker serves a lengthy sentence.
