The South African High Court, where the Northern Cape Division sat in Kimberley, has sentenced Itumeleng Reclin Machabe, also known as Bendow (27), to two lifetime terms and 44 years in prison. Distribution of P0RNOGRAGY images of Relebogile segami, R3 two other minors and young people.
The National Prosecution Agency (NPA) said in a statement on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 that the defendant was charged with 1: rape of a woman for 13 years, 2nd time: fraud; count 3 – 7: Violation of No. 32 of 2007 Violations of Section 19(a) of the Act (disclosure or display of children or children who p0rnography to children); Count 8: Criminal injury; Count 9: Fraud; Count 10: Criminal injury; Count 11: Fraud; Count 12: Violation of 2007 Violations of Section 19(a) of Bill 32 (exposed to children or manifestations to children); Count 13: attempted extortion; Count 14 – 16: R3PE 15-year-old female; Count 17: attempted murder; Count 18 : R3PE 11-age women; Count 19: Murdering 11-age women.
It is reported that on March 30, 2022, her family disappeared and police, along with members of the Galeshvi community, began searching for the young girl. Unfortunately, her body was found near the Kimberley Northern Cape Legislature on March 31, 2022.
During the investigation, police found Machabe was the last person to meet with the victim before he disappeared. Police quickly managed to arrest Itumeleng Machabe, who made his first court appearance on April 4, 2022.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. When the defendant applied for bail in Galeshewe District Court, the court heard that the defendant faced charges from another 15-year-old R3PE, who was released on bail on this issue.
In view of the serious allegations against him, the prosecution successfully objected to the defendant’s bail application in matters 6 of this Schedule.
During the police investigation of the defendant, other victims of the defendant filed cases against him. The investigation confirmed that the defendant’s terror journey began as early as 2013
.
After Machebe’s arrest in 2022, a victim gathered some strength to oppose the defendant’s testimony this time, even if the crime dates back more than a decade.
During the trial, the prosecutor represented by state advocate Elmari Kruger pointed out to the court that the defendant intended to target minors he knew he knew it was fragile, young, innocent and childish . All the heinous crimes the accused committed against him against the minors and how he destroyed the lives of the victims, and not the lives of their families.
The court heard how the defendant lured the victim through testimony from victims and witnesses, and how he used social media platforms to use compromised photos of the victims and posted them on its platform after requesting nude photos.
The court also learned how the defendant was a victim of R3 on multiple occasions at the time. The defendant deliberately harassed the minor and hoped that she would also show unspeakable behavior to him.
The victim told the court that the defendant told her that if she screamed, he would throw her into the dam, which scared her.
Although the swab was taken to the victim, including one of the victim’s dead and clothes found around the neck, male DNA was insufficient. The sperm count is male, a sperm without nuclei in his sperm cells, the male may have ejaculated outside the body, he may have used a condom, may have cleaned the victim, or the victim may have cleaned himself, and has not Cleaning up will definitely be exempted from crime.
The state relies primarily on indirect evidence and urged the court to note the differences and impossibility in the version of the Machebe incident.
In the aggravated situation, the prosecutor believes that South Africa is well known to face unsustainable levels of violent crime, especially against vulnerable groups, including women and children.
The state further argues that there is no substantial and compelling factor that can deviate the court from the prescribed minimum sentence when it comes to crimes of this nature.
In the sentencing, the court found the defendant guilty in all charges, but for lack of evidence, the charge was No. 17 (attempted murder).
The court sentenced the defendant to two counts of life and 44 years in prison.
The court also ordered the registration of the defendant’s name in the National Register of Sex Offenders. The defendant was also declared unfit for possession of a firearm. The defendant was sentenced on the day of Relebogile Segami to celebrate her 14th birthday.
