Johannesburg - Police said on Tuesday that a man had been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and rape by the Northern Cape High Court in Kimberley.
Gert Waterwond was convicted of raping and murdering Katty Johannes, 53, on 3 October last year in Campbell, said spokesperson Donald Mdhluli.
Waterwond committed the crimes with another man, Abraham Swartz. Both men were arrested the same day Johannes was murdered.
Swartz died during the trial.
Waterwond and Swartz stole two chickens from Johannes's garden about 18:00 on 3 October. Later that night, they returned to the house, where Johannes was home alone with her 8-year-old daughter.
"They broke into the house and stole an amplifier and a DVD player... Both men raped the woman in front of the child. They then strangled her and left," Mdhluli said.
Johannes's husband was not home as he was fishing with family friends.
The two men were arrested following a manhunt. A DVD player, amplifier and two slaughtered chickens were found in their possession. They were positively identified in an ID parade and charged with rape, murder and housebreaking.