Kenneth Lepota, a convicted rapists was apprehended on Friday, after evading sentencing for almost 12 days.

The 36-year-old, from Tseseng Village in Qwaqwa, was arrested after a community member spotted him upon his return to the village and alerted the investigating officer, and he was immediately arrested. 

Lepota was convicted of rape alongside two co-accused in 2014 but failed to appear in court for his sentencing and had been on the run ever since until his recapture. 

Morena Mokoena, one of the co-accused is currently serving a life sentence for the rape, while the third co-accused passed away before he could be sentenced. 

According to police the incident took place in the early hours of 6 April 2011 when the victim along with her friend were walking from a tarven.

“On April 6, 2011, a 26-year-old woman from Tseseng Village was walking home from a local tavern with a friend when they were confronted by three men. The suspects forcefully grabbed the victim, dragged her into nearby bushes, and raped her,” police said. 

In court the victim was able to identify all three perpetrators which led to their arrest and prosecution in 2014 at the Tsheseng Magistrate’s Court and were released on bail while awaiting sentencing.

“Before sentencing could take place, one of the accused died. Morena Mokoena was later sentenced to life imprisonment, while Kenneth Lepota absconded and remained in hiding after failing to appear in court for sentencing.” 

The Free State Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, applauded the community member for providing valuable information that led to the arrest. 

"The public remains the eyes and ears of the police. This arrest demonstrates the importance of community cooperation in ensuring that offenders are brought to justice, regardless of how much time has passed,” said Lesia