Ramahlo was convicted on charges of robbery with firearms and rape, ending a reign of terror that shook the Motupa village community.
Between January and November 2021, residents of Bolobedu South, under the Tzaneen policing area, lived in fear as Ramahlo and an accomplice targeted couples strolling the village at night.
Armed and dangerous, they would rob their victims of valuables, including cellphones, and subject the female victims to brutal sexual assaults in front of their partners.
The assailants even targeted couples in motor vehicles, forcing male victims to engage in sexual acts with their partners after raping them.
The relentless efforts of the Limpopo police led to the arrest of Ramahlo on February 14, 2022. DNA evidence further linked him to three additional cases in the same area, solidifying his guilt.
The diligent investigation, carried out by Sergeant Glenda Mathebula and the Tzaneen tracing team, played a crucial role in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
During the sentencing, the court imposed 13 years of imprisonment for each of the four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, resulting in a total of 52 years.
Additionally, Ramahlo received 25 years for each of the two rape charges, with five years suspended, contingent on him not being convicted of rape during the suspension period.
The court ordered that these sentences run concurrently, ensuring a severe punishment for his heinous crimes.
