A serial rapist from Oukasie in Brits who targeted female hitchhikers, was sentenced to life imprisonments in the High Court.

Lucky Mathabatha (45) was arrested at his home in Oukasie in December 2019 after investigations linked him to seven rape cases and five kidnappings reported in and around Brits between 2010 and 2015.

“According to information presented before the court, Mathabatha targeted female hitchhikers. He would wait for unsuspecting motorists to stop and offer lifts to the females. He would then run to the vehicles and rob the motorist before overpowering and kidnapping the female victims. He took them to nearby bushes where they were raped,” said police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani.

Mathabatha was linked to the cases through DNA results obtained in another rape case he committed in Gauteng. He was denied bail by the court and remained in custody since his arrest in December 2019.

Mathabatha was sentenced 15 years each for four counts of robbery, seven years each for five counts of kidnapping, and life sentences for seven counts of rape, as well as an additional 10 years imprisonment.

Lieutenant General Sello Kwena praised the Brits Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for spending sleepless nights, tracing the perpetrator, putting him behind bars and ensuring that he receives an appropriate jail sentence. He also thanked the prosecution for the role they played in the sentence which he said will send a stern warning to potential criminals that the police are serious about fighting crime in the province.