THE #NotInMyName international organisation has welcomed the sentencing of serial rapist Katlego Mabote, who raped and abused women in Mofolo, Soweto, between 2007 and 2014.
The organisation’s Themba Masango said they were happy that the case was successfully prosecuted, especially during the 16 days of activism campaign against gender-based violence and femicide on women and children.
“We want a strong message to be sent out to perpetrators and abusers. This sentence should say South Africa is ruled by law,” he said.
Mabote was sentenced by the South Gauteng High Court to five life terms and 42 years on Tuesday, 13 December.
Known as “Success”, he was self-employed and owned taxis that transported schoolchildren and employees of Pick and Pay around Soweto. One of his taxis was used to kidnap women in Rockville and Mofolo.
According to National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane, six of his victims were lured into boarding his taxi and threatened with assault. Then they were assaulted viciously before being taken to his place, where they were raped.
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Some were unconscious because of the assault. Some victims were raped repeatedly in the presence of other witnesses and co-perpetrators, who are still at large.
Mabote was arrested for another rape incident in 2014, when six more dockets were reactivated. These were rape cases reported at Moroka SAPS, and had been closed after complainants filed withdrawal statements.
The organisation’s head of communications, Nwabisa Sigaba, told the People’s Paper that Gauteng had experienced some of the most horrendous incidents of sexual assault, rape and brutal killings in recent times. A total of 1 403 people were killed in the province from January to March.
“The province has recorded a 45,2% increase in murders, with 437 more people murdered compared to the same period in 2020/2021, according to the 2022 quarterly crime statistics. These figures demonstrate the continuous challenges women, particularly sex workers, face in their homes and at the hands of their loved ones, intimate partners and society,” she said.
She added that patriarchal norms and attitudes, including those that excused or legitimated the use of violence, were driving the high rate of GBV.
And if we wanted to challenge GBV in our country, we needed to change the socioeconomic conditions of women which affected their experiences.
“Furthermore, police need to play a more active role in protecting women and victims, and ensuring that they have a safe platform to report sexual assault, rape and other crimes they may experience while on the job.”
