The Limpopo high court has sentenced Aubrey Manaka two life terms for the rape and murder of Precious Ramabulana.

This week, the court heard gruesome details surrounding Ramabulana’s savage killing. It was learnt that she was actually stabbed 90 times, and not 52 as previously reported

Manaka pleaded guilty to all charges against him including rape, murder, robbery and house breaking. Ramabulana, a 21-year-old student at Capricorn TVET College was stabbed multiple times while she was sleeping at her off-campus residence in November 2019.

Manaka admitted to the court, that he stabbed Ramabulana before and after raping her. He said he stabbed her to death because he feared she would be able to identify him to police.

He was also handed eight years for robbery with intent to rape and 15 years for robbery with grievous bodily harm.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Mashadu Malabi-Dzangi said they welcome the ruling against Aubrey Manaka, for Precious Ramabulana’s murder.

“The NPA welcomes the sentence and hopes that it will serve as a deterrent to other rapists and murders who intend violating the law,” Malabi-Dzangi said.

The ‘Not In My Name’ movement has also reacted to the court’s decision and similarly, also said they hope it deters others from committing such heinous acts.

We want to applaud the court for discharging its duties in a high and great standard.

Furthermore, we want to urge all other courts to take the example of the honourable court in Limpopo of giving harsher and more extensive sentences to perpetrators as to make sure that we deter would-be perpetrators from carrying out heinous crimes such as this,” said its Secretary-General Themba Masango.