29/04/2026
The Theunissen Regional Court has sentenced Matebesi Papikie Bambiso (40) to life imprisonment for r**e.
The sentencing emanates from an incident that occurred on Saturday, 5 October 2024, at about 19:00. The Regional Court heard how, on the day of the incident, the female victim who was aged 46 at the time was accosted by the accused and his accomplice. While the victim was walking home from a traditional ceremony, she was attacked by the two males. She was able to identify one of them as Papi. During the attack, the victim was struck on the left side of the head with a stone. The victim recalled how both males assaulted her before taking turns and r**ed her.
While the victim was lying defenceless on the ground, they kicked her, and Papi further stabbed her. Believing that the victim was dead, they then left her after taking her daughter's cellphone from her. The victim then managed to get up and seek assistance at Theunissen police station, where a case of r**e was registered.
The matter was assigned to Constable Theo Weilbach of the Bultfontein Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigations. Through his meticulous investigation, the one suspect who was known to the victim was arrested on 5 November 2024. The accused was denied bail until the commencement of the trial and subsequently the time of his conviction.
The investigating officer who worked tirelessly alongside prosecutor Dr I Maklein of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) ensured that the accused was found guilty. Matebesi Papikie Bambiso was sentenced to life imprisonment by Magistrate Mr Mitha on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.
