Johannesburg,South Africa

Hans Appie a 50-year-old Pampierstad rapist was sentenced to life after being convicted for various charges of rape,attempted murder and robbery by the Taung Regional Court in Northern Cape.

According to South African Police Service(SAPS),he was arrested after several rape cases were reported in Pampierstad where it is alleged that the accused was terrorising victims between 2013 and 2014.He targeted children on their way to school and women going to work in the early hours of the morning and returning late at night.

Police said he raped and robbed the victims of money,clothes and cellphones.DNA linked the accused to all the rape cases.

Police added that after the arrest of the accused in 2013,bail was successfully opposed by the investigating officer,Sergeant Sidwell Dastile and the case was transferred to the Taung regional court for trial.

He was found guilty on 17 October 2023 on ten charges and was sentenced on Thursday,02 November 2023 for all charges that follows:

• Count 1:Rape-Life imprisonment.

• Count 2:Rape-Life imprisonment.

• Count 3:Attempted Murder,15 years' imprisonment.

• Count 4:Attempted Murder,15 years' imprisonment.

• Count 5:Attempted Murder,10 years' imprisonment.

• Count 6:Attempted Murder,10 years' imprisonment.

• Count 7:Robbery,15 years' imprisonment.

• Count 8:Robbery,15 years' imprisonment.

• Count 9:Robbery,8 years' imprisonment.

• Count 10:Robbery,8 years' imprisonment.

Police added further,the accused was also declared unfit to posses a firearm and his name will be entered in the National Register for Sexual Offenders and the accused may not work with children.

The arrest and conviction of Hans Appie has caught even the interest of the SAPS leadership in the Northern Cape.

Policed concluded that the Provincial Commissioner,Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola applauded the investigating officer Sergeant Sidwell Dastile for the meticulous investigation of all cases which led to life-long incarnation of the accused.