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Man given 12 life terms for raping 11 boys

A serial rapist who targeted young boys in Sebokeng and neighbouring townships in the Vaal‚ south of Johannesburg‚ was sentenced to 12 life terms and further jail time on Tuesday.

In a packed Vereeniging Circuit Court of the high court‚ acting judge Reginald Ramudzuli Dama sentenced John Gqinumuzi Mhlambi‚ 31‚ to a life term for each of the 12 charges of rape he was found guilty of.

He was sentenced to an additional 75 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances‚ 12 years for sexual assault‚ 12 years for compelling a child to witness the commission of a sexual offence‚ five years for attempted rape‚ five years for pointing of a firearm and six years for kidnapping.

Portions of the sentences are set to run concurrently.

Dama denied Mhlambi’s application for leave appeal against his convictions and sentence.

Dama said the victims were minors who were terrified and vulnerable while Mhlambi thought he was untouchable when he kidnapped‚ raped and robbed them.

Dama said Mhlambi’s earlier apology was not authentic and he did not deserve mercy from the court.

Mhlambi raped 11 boys between 2011 and 2014 before he was arrested in July 2014. His arrest came after one of his victims identified him.

His victims were between 10 and 15 years old. One of the boys was raped twice.

Mhlambi was out on parole when he committed most of the crimes. He was convicted of robbery in 2012 and sentenced to two years in prison‚ but he was released on parole after eight months.

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