THE suspect asked his victims to forgive him before he died.
Johannes Jojo Shabangu (35) died at the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court's holding cells in Tshwane on Wednesday, 2 August.
He collapsed and fell ill in the holding cells after pleading guilty to 14 charges of rape and 11 of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
According to North West NPA Regional spokesman Henry Mamothame, Shabangu was standing trial at the High Court of South Africa, North West Division, sitting in the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court.
"He fell ill and collapsed in a holding cell while the court was in recess. This was following Judge Andre Peterson receiving his guilty plea statement and subsequently finding him guilty in all charges, according to the guilty plea," he said.
He said the case was set for victim impact statements to be read in court before sentencing could be imposed, but it was rolled over to Thursday, 3 August 2023, for him to receive medical attention.
"It emerged in court that Shabangu was declared dead by the paramedics, and a declaration certificate was presented to Peterson. He then declared proceedings as finalised, and he ordered for the death certificate to be filed with the registrar of the High Court of South: North West Division. He further ordered an inquest docket to be registered to determine the cause of death," he said.
The suspect's court appearance originates from incidents in Winterveldt, Tshwane, between July 2012 and December 2019, where, together with unknown accomplices, they raped and robbed multiple women of their properties.
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The evidence contained in the indictment indicates that in some instances, Shabangu, together with his accomplices, would confront couples coming from places of leisure in the evenings, threaten them with a firearm, beat up the boyfriends, rob them of their belongings and take turns in raping the female victims.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, alongside provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Sello Kwena, lauded Advocate.
Nangomso Goloda and Sergeant Molwantoa Rapakgadi for their collaboration in ensuring a successful conviction.
