Xolani Sebothoma (25) was found guilty in the Middelburg High Court on eight counts, including rape, robbery and burglary.
It is alleged that he committed the crimes for over a year between 2019 and 2020 in Dennilton policing area in Sekhukhune District.
The 25-year-old convict, had been terrorising the community of Moteti and raped women between the ages of 17 and 22.
He was tracked down and arrested by members of Groblersdal Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit in Pretoria, Gauteng province.
The court heard that Sebothoma, in one of the incidents raped a 17-year-old on 2019-07-01 at about 22:00, after he found her at a hitchhiking spot.
The victim had travelled from Pretoria when she discovered that all taxis to her home in Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga province had already left.
The accused dragged the victim to a secluded area where he hit her with a stone before raping her. After the ordeal, he took her cellphone and fled the scene.
The accused was linked to the cases through DNA.
Detective Warrant Officer Lekgala Victoria Phala investigated the cases and did a sterling work. She successfully opposed bail, and the accused was kept in custody throughout the trial proceedings.
The sentences were passed as follows:
- Count 1, two counts of rape: life imprisonment plus 15 years imprisonment
- Count 2, rape and house breaking: life imprisonment plus 15 years imprisonment for
- Count 3, rape and house breaking: 20 years imprisonment
- Count 4. Rape and robbery: Life imprisonment plus 15 years imprisonment.
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.