The Polokwane High Court has sentenced 41-year-old Sipho Justice Machete to an effective 25 years imprisonment on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, for a series of crimes committed over 14 years.
Machete was convicted on nine counts of rape, multiple counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. His crimes, committed between 2005 and 2019, mainly targeted women and children aged between 14 and 58 in the Tzaneen, Modjadjiskloof, and Bolobedu areas under the Mopani District.
The court heard that Machete ambushed victims along pathways at night and in the early hours of the morning, hiding in bushes and attacking them with knives and stones. He would threaten, assault, rape, and rob his victims before fleeing the scenes.
A major breakthrough in the case came in February 2024 when he was traced to Midrand, Gauteng, and DNA evidence linked him to multiple crime scenes.
Sergeant Mokgadi Matjeka of the Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS), Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) Unit, led the investigation and successfully opposed bail, ensuring Machete remained behind bars during trial.
The High Court noted the devastating impact of his crimes and ruled that the 25-year sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the need to protect the community.
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