After raping and robbing women in broad daylight near the Education Department

A man was jailed for 33 years for rape, robbery and sexual assault on Tuesday by the Harrismith High Court, Free State police said.

Tsietsi Mofokeng, 30, was arrested in July last year for the crimes he committed between June 2011 and April 2012.

He was found guilty in December on eight counts of common robbery, three of rape, robbery with aggravated circumstances and sexual assault of four women, Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said.

He attacked women during the day when they were walking to the education department offices based at the Old Parliament Building in Phuthaditjhaba.

“He grabbed the victims, threatened them with a knife, then raped and robbed them their personal belongings such as money and cellphones,” said Mophiring.

In October 2010, he was granted parole after he had spent eight years in prison for theft, house-breaking and robbery.