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Johannesburg — Two serial rapists who appealed against their prison sentences of 20 years, have been given life sentences, Beeld reported yesterday. The North Gauteng High Court ruled that sentences handed down by a magistrate had been too lenient.
In the appeal judgement, Acting Judge Jan Hiemstra said he got the impression that the magistrate had treated the matter as just another ordinary case.
Samuel Lucky Msimanga, Samkele Welcome Sibeko and two other accused had been convicted in the Springs Regional Court of raping a 24-year-old woman.
Msimanga and Sibeko pleaded guilty and appealed against their sentences.
The magistrate gave them each 20 years in prison after finding that there were factors that justified a lighter sentence.
These factors were that the two had pleaded guilty and that they had consumed alcohol, although they were not drunk when they committed the crime.
Hiemstra said the two had only pleaded guilty because they realised their case was hopeless because of conclusive DNA results.
The new sentences were backdated to 17 October 2012. — SAPA.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo