A 21-year-old Limpopo man will spend the next 11 years behind bars after being convicted of the brutal rape of an 18-year-old woman in Seshego.
Samuel Thapelo Makibelo was sentenced in the Polokwane Regional Court on February 17, 2026, to 10 years’ direct imprisonment for rape and a further one year for possession of a dangerous weapon.
The attack occurred in September 2019 at about 2.45am while the victim was sitting inside her boyfriend’s vehicle in Seshego. A fight broke out between her boyfriend and a group of men, creating chaos that Makibelo exploited.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said Makibelo approached the young woman armed with a broken bottle and forcefully dragged her from the vehicle. He later returned with a knife, again pulling her out before taking her to his residence in Letsokoane Village.
“Upon arrival, the accused pushed her onto a bed, undressed her and attempted to sexually assault her. The victim screamed, causing him to stop,” Ledwaba said.
The traumatised woman managed to escape after asking to go outside, where she sought help and reported the matter at Seshego Police Station.
The case was transferred to the Seshego Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, where Sergeant Phineas Ngwepe led the investigation.
Ladwaba said Makibelo was arrested days later. Although he was granted bail, he failed to appear in court, and a warrant of arrest was issued. He was re-arrested and remained in custody until sentencing.
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner, Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the sentence, commending the investigating officer for his persistence.
“The conviction demonstrates our unwavering commitment to fighting Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. We will continue to ensure that perpetrators of sexual offences face the full might of the law,” she said.
The Star
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