Man gets double life sentence for rape, murder

Johannesburg - A convicted murderer and rapist was handed two life sentences in the Noupoort Magistrate's Court, Northern Cape police said on Wednesday.

"Mpumelelo Nxgabazi was given a double life sentence for rape and murder in the Noupoort Magistrate's Court," spokesperson Masebueng Mochologi-Maleeme said in a statement.

The man was sentenced on Tuesday.

"The magistrate sent a strong message to anyone who might think of committing such a crime in future to think again."

Nxgabazi raped and murdered an 18-year-old woman he had followed from a local tavern.

Mochologi-Maleeme said the victim Jessica Marikana left the tavern and proceeded home. He followed her and repeatedly raped her then drowned her at a nearby river.