During the period of March to May 2022 the accused acted in concert to entrap unsuspecting motorists and rob them of their properties, which include cash, cellphones and motor vehicles. Accused number three Christine Masiza (29) was used as bait to approach some of the victims.
The other accused would then pounce on the victims with firearms and kidnap them at gunpoint. The following victims fell into the trap of this syndicate:
On 12 March 2022 the victim was approached, forced inside the boot and forced to jump inside the river. A Polo Vivo Silver in colour with Northern Cape number plates, a Huawei P30 Lite cellphone worth R12 000 and R1000 cash were robbed.
On the same date the late Maleke Francis Rakaki (51), an employee of Eskom, was approached and robbed, as above mentioned. His maroon Mazda CX5 with FS number plates and R1400 cash were robbed. The late Rakaki’s face was covered with a plastic bag, tied both hands, feet and threw off the bridge over the Tikwe River.
The third victim was robbed of a charcoal Toyota Corolla with FS number, gold Samsung J5 cellphone worth R2000, several bank cards, clothing cards, driver’s license and his Identity Document card. His face was covered with a plastic bag, forced inside the boot, drove with him and forced to jump inside the Tikwe River, Virginia.
The five suspects were arrested; two were acquitted, and three were found guilty as charged by the Free State High Court in Virginia.
The accused were sentenced as follows:
Moeketsi Shadrack Vinger (30) from Botshabelo:
Count 4: Robbery with Aggravating Circumstances 15 years in jail
Count 5: Kidnaping: 5 years in jail
Count 6: Murder: Life imprisonment
Count 7: Robbery with Aggravating circumstances: 15 years in jail
Count 8: Kidnaping: 5 years in jail
Count 9: Attempted Murder: 10 years in jail
Christine Masiza (29) from New Stands, Thabong Welkom:
Count 4: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 08 years in jail
Count 5: Kidnaping: 3 years in jail
Count 7: Robbery with aggravating circumstances: 8 years in jail
Count 8: Kidnaping: 3 years in jail.
Judge JP Daffue was the presiding Judge while Advocate Mpemvane was the prosecutor in the matter. The sentence was passed on 5 December 2023.
The case was assigned to Detective Sergeant Andrew Lechesa of Welkom Serious and Violent Crimes, who worked together with Sergeant Seleke Khosana to effect these arrests and seizures of Rakaki’s vehicle.
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