Rapists get life for 'evil savagery'
2011-11-30 22:37
Pretoria - An ex-inmate and his friend, who raped a Baviaanspoort prison warder, were jailed for life by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Their victim, a tiny blonde warder, raised her fist and shouted in victory after sentence was passed.
Former Baviaanspoort prisoner Johannes Modise Monama, 24, and Marebele Edward Sebetsho, 31, raped her in her house inside the Baviaanspoort prison complex in 2008.
They took turns raping her watched by her hysterical 4-year-old daughter, who refused to leave her mother's side.
Judge Bert Bam sentenced them to a further 20 years' imprisonment for breaking into their victim's home and robbing her of jewellery and cash.
They were still wearing her jewellery when they were caught near the prison later that day.
The sentence automatically runs concurrently with the life sentence.
Bam described rape as a repulsive crime which struck at the core of the womanhood and dignity of a victim.
The warder suffered injuries to her neck, wrists and body and spent a week in hospital.
After three years, she still being treated by a psychiatrist and a psychologist.
There was no doubt that the presence of her young daughter had worsened the extent of her humiliation and added to her trauma, he said.
'Evil savagery'
The men had shown an absolute brutal disregard for her dignity and privacy and had acted with evil savagery.
Earlier this year, Bam rejected Monama's claims that he and the victim were in a relationship and had "consensual sex".
The judge found that there was no reason to deviate from the maximum prescribed sentence.
The victim's family cheered in court and had to be silenced when the two were sentenced.
The warder told reporters afterwards she would not give up her civil claim against the department of correctional services. It will proceed in the high court next week.
She had not been back to work since the incident and has since moved to Middelburg to be near her parents. Her daughter has since started school there.
"I've been on sick leave the whole time and I am still under treatment. It's something that will always stay with you," she said.
- SAPA
