The Polokwane High Court in Limpopo has sentenced Facebook serial rapist Ronny Maluleke to 99 years imprisonment for multiple counts of rape, counts of robbery aggravating circumstances, and housebreaking with intent to rape.
Maluleke’s sentencing on Tuesday came after he was arrested at Lenyenye Village outside Tzaneen in November 2021. He was remanded in custody until his case was finalised.
According to Provincial Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, in May 2015, the convicted criminal intruded into one of his victim’s places of residence and found the woman with her younger sister.
He threatened them with a firearm, raped the victim in front of the sister, and robbed her of cellphones and money before fleeing the scene.
In a separate case in September 2016, Maluleke met another victim with a baby walking on the street to her sister’s place.
He stopped the woman and pretended to be enquiring about someone else. During their engagements, Maluleke grabbed the child and dashed to the bushes.
The victim followed him in an attempt to rescue the child. Maluleke pounced on the woman, and raped her.
“Between June 2020 and October 2021, Ronny continued to prey on victims using Facebook, primarily targeting women aged 17 and 46. He would make up a fake profile and promise women employment. He would schedule interviews for them and rape them in the room. He used the same modus operandi to lure all of his Facebook victims. All incidents were reported to the police, and investigations were activated,” Mashaba said.
After the police caught Maluleke three years ago, the investigating officer, Sergeant Mokgadi Matjeka of the Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS), opposed bail. The convicted criminal was kept in jail until the court found him guilty.
On Tuesday, 5 November 2024, Maluleke was found guilty and sentenced to 99 years imprisonment on 19 counts of rape. The court handed him a 95-year sentence for 12 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and four years for two counts of housebreaking with the intent to rape.
Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the sentence handed down to Maluleke. “This sentence will serve as a deterrent to would be rapists to resist the temptation of engaging in such disgraceful and shameful acts,” said Lieutenant General, Thembi Hadebe.
