Pearl rapist gets four life sentences

Serial rapist Sipho Mbokazi, known as the “Pearl Penis Rapist,” was sentenced to four life sentences plus an additional 213 years.

He was sentenced in the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Mbokazi, 37, wore pearls in his private parts when he raped his victims. He attacked most of his victims in their homes in Soshanguve. He wore a balaclava and held a gun or knife to the victim’s throat.

A woman was raped in front of her six-year-old son.

His crime spree lasted two years before he was finally arrested in April 2013.

He attacked some of his victims more than once.

Two of his victims who were present at the sentencing are mother and daughter. The two cried as the verdict was announced.

Pretoria News reported that Judge Kollapen told each victim that they were brave women who had faced their rapist in court.

The judge told the victims that what happened to them was not their fault and that justice had been served.

“I have little doubt that the consequences of what happened will linger for a long time. Some of you will overcome the effects in time; For others it may take forever, but the fact that you showed up in court to testify showed that you will not let what happened defeat you.”

Mbokazi maintains his innocence.

He was linked to the rapes through DNA and the beads he wore on his penis.

He has since removed the beads.

He said that the pearl necklace was common among men and that it was not evidence that he was a rapist.

All of the victims identified him and said they recognized his eyes.

Photo credit: Steve Rhodes via photopin cc