The man who murdered and raped an eight-year-old Thabong girl received two life sentences for rape and murder with no leave to appeal. He also received a further 13 years for extortion and kidnapping.
Motsika Stompie Rapuleng (46) was sentenced by the Welkom High Court on Friday (06/05).
The case of his 44-year-old girlfriend, Lerato Merriam Kgitsane, continues in the Welkom High Court.
The drama started on 21 June 2021, when Bokamoso Shabe (8) was abducted from the Mmantshebo Primary School in Jerusalem Park, Thabong.
Soon after her disappearance, her grandmother received a phone call from a man who demanded R50 000 for her safe return.
What ensued was a desperate race against time to rescue the little girl from kidnappers.
It ended in tragedy when her body was found three days later, on 24 June, wrapped in a duvet in a field in Riebeeckstad.
A case of kidnapping, rape and murder was registered, and a thorough investigation was conducted by Crime Intelligence in the Lejweleputswa District office for Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS), the Welkom K9 Unit, Hostage Negotiator and the Thabong Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.
Shortly thereafter Rapuleng and Kgitsane were arrested for murder, rape, kidnapping and extortion.
“The provincial commissioner of the Free State, Lt. Gen. Baile Motswenyane, praised the team for conducting the thorough investigation which led to the arrests of the two killers of an innocent soul,” says Capt, Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the SAPS in Lejweleputswa.
“She further welcomed the heavy sentence imposed on the rapist and murderer, as it will send a clear message to other criminals.”
