SERIAL RAPIST GETS 1 535 YEARS IN JAIL
ONE of the victims of serial rapist Albert Morake could not bear to celebrate her birthday for the past two years because it was the day Morake raped her.
But after Morake, 35, was yesterday sentenced to more than 1 500 years in prison, Keabetswe Mawasha is looking forward to celebrating her 29th birthday on May 7 this year.
She is one of 29 women who were raped by Morake of Ivory Park, Midrand.
Morake had pleaded not guilty to 175 charges, including 30 of rape, 41 of kidnapping, 24 of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three of attempted robbery and one of attempted murder. He was found guilty on 144 counts.
The Johannesburg High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate ’ s Court on the East Rand sen- tenced Morake to a total of 1 535 years of imprisonment. This includes 30 life terms for the counts of rape, 15 years on each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 10 years for attempted murder, five years on each kidnapping count and five years for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The sentences will run concurrently and Morake will, in effect, serve only one life term.
Judge Rean Strydom said Morake had not shown any remorse for his crimes and had persisted in denying his involvement throughout.
He had also been arrogant because he “provided his victims with advice on how to protect themselves from rape in the future, ” Strydom said.
Most of Morake ’ s victims had been traumatised and were emotional when they testified against him, he said.
“He had acted with premeditation. He came prepared [to commit the crimes] and was always in control,” Strydom said.
Guilty on 30 counts, Morake is one of the country ’ s worst serial rapists and his sentence is one of the most stringent.
In 2007, Mongezi Jingxela, 39, was found guilty on 60 counts of rape as well as other related crimes, and sentenced to 2 461 years in jail, including 55 life terms.
In 2013, the so-called “birthday rapist ” Mlungisa Mtshali was sentenced to 39 life terms for 39 rapes.
Morake ’ s sentence was a victory for his victims who were “ecstatic ” that he was going to jail for a long time.
“I can ’ t wait to celebrate my birthday. I couldn ’ t for the past two years. I am glad he is going to rot in jail,” said Mawasha.
Another victim said: “I am very, very happy. I will sleep like a little baby. ”
A third victim, who said that she failed matric and started drinking and smoking as result of the rape, said: “I feel like I ’ m dreaming. It feels like something has been lifted off my shoulders. This [rape] changed my life.”
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindi Louw said: “We are happy as the NPA that we were able to fulfil our mandatory obligation of delivering justice to victims of violent crimes.”
It ’ s like something has been lifted off my shoulders.
This rape changed my life