Life in jail for Limpopo dating show killer

A Limpopo man was jailed for life on Thursday for killing two women who took part in a radio dating show with him, police said.

Kabelo Rodney Maake was sentenced to life for each of the murders, and to a third life term for murdering another woman, said Colonel Ronel Otto.

He was also sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment each on three charges of kidnapping, and to 15 years each on three charges of armed robbery, she said.

Maake had pleaded guilty to the charges in the High Court sitting in Polokwane.

He arranged to meet Catherine Morema in Mahwibidung village near Tzaneen during a dating show on Capricorn FM between June and November 2010, said Otto.

"He took her to a deserted bushy area and robbed her of her handbag, containing cash, a bank card and a cellphone, before she was strangled... with a cloth and tied to a tree."

He also arranged to meet Mahlako Millicent Rachuene at Mahwibidung village, and took her to an isolated spot and demanded money, she said.

As Rachuene did not have money, he ordered her to phone her family and demand ransom money.

"The woman was strangled... after her hands were tied behind her back. The suspect also took her handbag containing a bank card and cellphone and then withdrew R1000 from her bank account," Otto said.

Maake also overpowered and robbed Mabotse Sinah Rasebotsa at Silubane village. He tied her hands behind her back and strangled her and took her handbag.

"The suspect was arrested a few months after the murders, after information received from community members was followed up," said Otto.

"Following his arrest, he led the police to the places where he committed the crimes, and where the decomposing bodies of the women were discovered."