Mmegi

‘Serial rapist’ nabbed for BIUST student’s murder

Suspect had attempted to rape deceased Was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for rape back in 2013 Arrested whilst on the run for another rape offence

Pini Bothoko

Believed to be a serial rapist, Mahalapye native Ofentse Mofokeng, 35, has been on the run and made the police ‘wanted’ list for rape. His luck ran out recently after he gave a Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) student a lift, demanded sex on the way, and assaulted and injured her after she spurned his advances.

Palapye police recently nabbed Mofokeng for the murder of Naomi Gouwe, 22, a BIUST student who had on March 1 hitchhiked from a bus stop near Airport Junction Mall in Gaborone to Palapye. She became Mofokeng’s unfortunate victim when he gave her a lift and later demanded sex from her.

When the Mochudi native rejected his advances, Mofokeng allegedly hit her with an object on the head. She later succumbed to her injuries while at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH). Following an intensive search to locate and arrest the suspect, Palapye police recently captured Mofokeng who was on March 13 arraigned before the Palapye Magistrate’s Court to face a single count of murder.

Palapye Police Station commander, Superintendent Molly Lebala-Moduke confirmed this when reached for a comment by this publication. Lebala-Moduke stated that the suspect was remanded in custody and will appear in court for mention on May 29.

“Investigations into the matter are ongoing to establish what transpired on the fateful day. However, Gouwe was recently laid to rest in her home village, Mochudi,” she said.

When the incident happened, Mofokeng was then in the company of his girlfriend [unnamed] who had blacked out in the car following a drinking spree during the trip.

On the way, Mofokeng allegedly claimed that his car had a mechanical fault, parked by the roadside, and then demanded sex from the young woman. She declined his advances and after being rejected he assaulted her, drove off, and left her for dead.

Luckily, Gouwe regained consciousness which was enough for her to hitchhike for the second time just to arrive at her destination whereupon she shared the harrowing details of her trip with a friend. The two left together to seek medical attention for Gouwe at Palapye hospital. The young woman was hospitalised and later referred to PMH where she succumbed to her injuries on March 3.

In January, Botswana Police Service posted Mofokeng on their Facebook page as a wanted person for a rape offence he had committed in Mahalapye where they asked members of the public to help them locate him. Following Gouwe’s death, Mofekeng is now in court to face murder and rape charges. Gouwe’s assault and ultimate death add up to the alleged murder that Mofokeng committed while Mahalapye police were still looking for him for a rape charge.

Moreover, back in 2013, Lobatse Magistrate’s Court sentenced Mofokeng to 10 years imprisonment for rape after he had committed a similar offence. Then, he had assaulted a woman he claimed was his girlfriend and raped her.

FRONT PAGE

en-bw

2023-03-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://enews.mmegi.bw/article/281608129672733

Dikgang Publishing