Zimbabwean man (34) sentenced to 226 years imprisonment and 3 life sentences by SA court

By Priviledge Zviregei

Zimbabwean jail breaker Leornad Lemmy Chauke (34) was sentenced to three life sentences and an additional 226 years’ imprisonment by the Pretoria High Court after 26 Convictions for 2 counts of rape and murder.

Chauke was also convicted on four counts of robbery, six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, five counts of housebreaking, three counts of kidnapping, being illegal in the country and escaping from custody.

Ms Lumka Mahanjana the national Prosecution Authority (NPA), Gauteng Division Pretoria spokesperson confirmed the multiple sentences and Chauke’s jail escape in 2020 where he had been serving a 15-year jail term for house breaking and robbery.

“Leonard Lemmy Chauke (34), from Olievenhoutbosch, an illegal Zimbabwean migrant has been sentenced by the Pretoria High Court to three life terms for two counts of rape and murder,” she said.

“He was also sentenced to 80 years’ direct imprisonment, for four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 90 years’ direct imprisonment for six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, 15 years’ direct imprisonment, for five counts of housebreaking, 15 years’ direct imprisonment for three counts of kidnapping.

“In addition he will serve 10 years direct imprisonment for rape, 12 years direct imprisonment for four counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, two years direct imprisonment for escaping from custody and two years direct imprisonment for being illegal in the country.”

Ms Mahanjana said Chauke was meant to serve a 15-year sentence at Kgosi Maphuru Correctional Services, for housebreaking and robbery with aggravating circumstances, when he escaped in December 2020, only after two months of his sentence.

She added that after his ascape, Chauke went on to commit more brutal crimes in and around Olievenhoutbosch which eventually led to him being caught 2 days after commiting a murder crime.

“The youngest of his victims was a 17-year-old girl. On June 7, 2022, Chauke and his accomplice shot and killed a 35-year-old man at a squatter camp in Olievenhoutbosch”, said Miss Mahanjana.

“Chauke was then arrested two days later after a witness to the murder pointed him out to the police and has been in custody since. In court, Chauke pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him and told the court that he committed the offences while under the influence of drugs”.

However, prosecutor Advocate Mokautu Masilo, objected saying that Chauke did not show any remorse for the crimes he committed, instead, he is hiding behind his use of drugs.

“Furthermore, the crimes committed were heinous and were done in a meticulous way where Chauke and his accomplice would scout and attack vulnerable people and threaten them with a weapon,” she added.

“Moreover, Masilo handed in seven victim impact statements facilitated by the Court Preparation Officer, Lebogang Lebese, where the victims expressed how the incidents have emotionally affected them. They therefore, asked the court to impose the prescribed maximum sentence”.

Handing down the sentence, Judge Portia Phahlane, concured that Chauke did not show any remorse, and that he was convicted of serious offences prevalent in that country, and that the court must protect the law-abiding citizens from such criminals.

The judge added that everyone has a right to life, which should not be taken away from them and that a clear message should be sent that such behaviour is not accepted making his sentence very appropriate.