South African man sentenced to life imprisonment after attacking woman in Jo'burg

31 year old Lephalo Lenka, was sentenced in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court to life imprisonment for rape, 10 years for robbery with a firearm and five years for kidnapping. All sentences will run concurrently," said Warrant Officer Xoli Mbele in a statement.

Lenka was found guilty of being part of a group of three men, who last year in November, attacked a woman walking down the road in central Johannesburg. Mbele said the men held her up at gunpoint, stole R850 from her and pulled her into a dark building. Lenka then raped her several times, he said.


Mbele said the woman asked Lenka to buy her food. She then told a security guard at the venue what had happened to her. Police on patrol in the area were notified and Lenka was arrested. Police also recovered a knife, he said. Mbele praised the investigating officer on the case, saying it was the police official’s "diligent work" that had ensured the conviction.