Ga-Rankuwa – A 35-year-old man who had pleaded guilty to several charges of rape and robbery collapsed and died in the holding cells while his court matter was on a break.
Johannes Jojo Shabangu was standing trial at the High Court, North West Division – sitting at the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court on Thursday when he succumbed to an illness.
The deceased accused had earlier pleaded guilty to 14 charges of rape and 11 offences of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Shabangu’s matter had been rolled over to Thursday, (3 August 2023), for the accused to receive medical attention.
However, it emerged that Shabangu had collapsed in the holding cells and was declared dead by the paramedics.
Shabangu’s death certificate was presented to Judge Peterson, who declared the court proceedings finalised.
National Prosecuting Authority North West spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said Shabangu’s court appearance emanates from crimes committed in Winterveldt, in the Odi district, between July 2012 and December 2019.
During that period, Shabangu and his accomplices raped and robbed several women.
Mamothame said the evidence gathered indicates that in some instances, Shabangu and his accomplices targetted couples on their way from places of leisure.
The assailants used guns to threaten their victims. They would beat up the men and rob them of valuables.
With the men overpowered, the armed gang would take turns raping the women.
In some instances, the armed gang broke into homes, where they assaulted, and raped the occupants before robbing them.
There was evidence that the gang even accosted and robbed groups of women, some of whom they raped.
The youngest victim was only 14. She was attacked in June 2015.
In his guilty plea statement, which was read by his attorney, Shabangu asked for forgiveness from his victims.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr. Rachel Makhari, and Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded Advocate Nangomso Goloda and Sergeant Molwantoa Rapakgadi for their collaboration in ensuring a successful conviction.
