<<Print>>One of the victims of serial rapist, Albert Morake, has not been able to celebrate her birthday for the past two years because it was on that day that he raped her.
But, after Morake was sentenced to more than 1500 years in prison yesterday, Keabetswe Mawasha, who consented to her name being revealed, is looking forward to her 29th birthday on May 7.
She is one of 29 women raped by Morake, 35, of Ivory Park, east of Johannesburg. One of the women was raped twice.
Morake had pleaded not guilty to 175 charges, including 30 of rape, 41 of kidnapping, 24 of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three of attempted robbery and one of attempted murder. He was found guilty on 144 counts.
The Johannesburg High Court, sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court, on the East Rand, sentenced Morake to 1535 years of imprisonment, including 30 life terms for the counts of rape, 15 years on each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 10 years for attempted murder, five years on each kidnapping count and five years for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Judge Rean Strydom said Morake had not shown remorse and had persisted in denying his involvement in the crimes. He had been arrogant in that he "provided his victims with advice on how to protect themselves from rape in the future", the judge said.
Strydom said most of Morake's victims had been traumatised and were emotional when they testified against him. "He had acted with premeditation. He came prepared [to commit the crimes] and was always in control . " said Strydom.
Morake is one of this country's worst serial rapists and his sentence is one of the most severe. In 2007, Mongezi Jingxela, 39, was found guilty on 60 counts of rape and of related crimes and sentenced to 2461 years in jail, including 55 life terms. In 2013, Mlungisa Mtshali was sentenced to 39 life terms after being convicted of 39 rapes.
"I can't wait to celebrate my birthday," said Mawasha. ''I am glad he is going to rot in jail." Another victim said: "I am very, very happy. I will sleep like a little baby from now on."
A third victim, who said that she failed matric, and started drinking and smoking as result of the rape, said: "It feels like I'm dreaming. It feels like something has been lifted off my shoulders. That [rape] changed my life."