SERIAL killer and rapist Nhlanhla Mlotshwa Shabangu (21) has been sentenced to four life imprisonment terms.
He was also sentenced 18 years in jail by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court, sitting in Middelburg, on Wednesday, 9 November.
The court heard how he terrorised women in the last two years. He went to New Stand in Driefontein on 24 April last year and raped and stabbed Sibongile Msibi (36).
Her body was dumped next to the bushes in the area.
On 18 July last year, he raped and strangled Mbali Nkosi (16) in her parents’ house.
Then on 2 May this year, he stabbed Happiness Thela (31) to death after his attempts to rape her failed. An investigation team was established to probe these dreadful incidents. The accused was bust on the same day he attacked his last victim.
Shabangu was linked to all three cases as well as another one of murder, rape and attempted rape in Paulpietersburg, KZN.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and two of rape, and will still go on trial for the Paulpietersburg cases. The four life sentences will run consecutively, and the 18 years one concurrently with them.
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Commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela welcomed the harsh sentence.
“We trust that the sentence will deter others who perpetuate violence against women,” she said.
