A man in South Africa, Phakathi, has been sentenced to 42 life terms by the Johannesburg High Court, for a string of serious crimes including rape, kidnapping, theft, and assault.
According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Phakathi’s victims included schoolchildren, with the youngest being a nine-year-old girl, and his oldest victim aged 44, according to a report by BBC.
Most of his victims were attacked while travelling to or from school or work, but Phakathi also targeted some in their own homes. Posing as an electrician, he would gain access to the properties under false pretences before carrying out his assaults.
Phakathi was described by the judge as showing “no remorse and being beyond rehabilitation.” He was arrested in 2021, losing his leg after being shot by police during the process, BBC reported.
During his sentencing, Phakathi appeared in court on crutches, dressed in a blue tracksuit and face mask.
South Africa has long been battling high rates of violent crime, with sexual violence and murder prevalent across the country.
Recent police data revealed that over 9,300 rapes were reported between April and June this year, reflecting a 0.6% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, as reported by BBC.
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