The Molopo Sexual Offences Regional Court in North West has sentenced Fezile Zozi, a man convicted of multiple rapes, to three life terms in prison. This sentence comes after Zozi was found guilty of raping several women and girls over a span of years. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and stakeholders to combat sexual violence and ensure justice for victims.
According to Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, spokesperson for the North West provincial police, Zozi’s crimes occurred in Lomanyaneng over the course of several years, with incidents in May 2010, August 2021, and September 2023. In each case, Zozi approached his victims, offering to accompany them home, only to take advantage of the situation and assault them.
The first reported incident occurred in 2010 when Zozi met a 15-year-old girl and, after offering to walk her home, led her into a secluded area and assaulted her. His second victim, an 18-year-old woman, was attacked in August 2021 while he was on bail for previous offences. In this instance, Zozi again volunteered to walk with the young woman, but after a conversation where he claimed to have healing abilities, he assaulted her when she refused his advances. In 2023, Zozi attacked a 38-year-old woman after pretending to be a prophet, promising to help her with his supposed abilities. When she refused, he assaulted her as well.
The investigation into these incidents linked them together, and the cases were consolidated for trial. During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Advocate Kefentse Diseko, underscored the severity of Zozi’s actions, emphasizing the profound impact on his victims. The court ultimately sentenced Zozi to life imprisonment for each of the three rape convictions, with the sentences running concurrently. Additionally, Zozi was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
In another case, 31-year-old Tebogo Matshidiso was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a woman in Bodibe village, near Itsoseng, on October 3, 2021. The woman, who had been hitchhiking, was offered a lift by two men. During the journey, she was assaulted by the passenger. Later, when the vehicle broke down, the driver also assaulted her. A passerby helped the woman by allowing her to use a phone to call her family, and this assistance led to the identification and arrest of Matshidiso. The second suspect is still at large.
