Zuko Komisa

A 34-year-old serial rapist from Mamelodi, Doctor Nkurube Maruma, has been handed a staggering 491-year prison sentence by the Pretoria High Court.
The lengthy sentence, delivered by Judge Mashudu Munzhelele on Wednesday, May 21, comes after Maruma was convicted of 19 counts of rape, 15 housebreakings, aggravated robberies, and various other related offenses.
The court ruled that these sentences would run concurrently with a life imprisonment term, and Maruma was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Maruma’s reign of terror targeted the most vulnerable in society: women and children. He consistently broke into homes under the cover of night, using weapons to threaten his victims before carrying out his violent assaults.
His crime spree was finally brought to an end on August 14, 2022.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has expressed its strong approval of the sentence, commending the dedicated efforts of the prosecution team. Advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, praised their persistence, stating,
“This landmark sentence sends a powerful message that crimes of gender-based violence (GBV) will be met with the full might of the law.”
“Serial offenders like Maruma have no place in our communities,” reiterating the NPA’s unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring that perpetrators of GBV face justice “without fear or favour.”
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