08/03/2026
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, has welcomed the recent sentences handed down in four separate cases, including three involving r**e and one related to tampering with and/or damaging of essential infrastructure.
In the first incident, a suspect was arrested on Friday, 10 December 2021, after DNA evidence linked him to two r**e cases that were reported in Wolmaransstad. In the first case reported on Sunday evening, 4 June 2017, the court heard evidence that a 27-year-old women was walking back from Extension 15 to Extension 10 when she was overpowered by two men. The suspects robbed her of money, forced her to a nearby house and r**ed her. In the second case, reported on Sunday evening, 7 November 2018, a 21-year-old women went to a nearby shop when she was overpowered by two men who threatened her with a knife. She was taken to a nearby toilet, where she was r**ed.
Letlhogonolo Luckyboy Modisapodi (30) was found guilty by the Wolmaransstad Regional Court and sentenced to two life imprisonments. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Fi****ms Control Act 60 of 2000.
In a separate case, Buru Mopalami (29) was found guilty by the Sweizer-Reneke Regional Court and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the r**e of a 27-year-old women. The court heard evidence that the victim was visiting a local tavern in Ipelegeng, near Wolmaransstad, when the convict threatened her with a knife and forcibly took her to his house, where he r**ed her. Buru was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearm Control Act.
In a third, unrelated incident reported in Phokeng during February 2025, George William Nkedi (54), a former employee of the Rustenburg Municipality’s infrastructure department, was recently found guilty and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in terms of section 271(1)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 by the Bafokeng Mafistrates’ Court. This sentence follows after he was found in possession of suspected stolen copper cables belonging to the Rustenburg Local Municipality. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Fi****ms Control Act 60 of 2000.
Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo commended the investigating officers, prosecutors and all other role players for their collaborative efforts in securing these convictions and sentences.
