North West pastor sentenced to 15 years in jail for armed robbery

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A local pastor, Petrus Phuthego Gasengake, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of a violent robbery at the home of a female congregant in Ramosadi Village near Mmabatho in the North West.

The Molopo Regional Court handed down the sentence after Gasengake, 48, was found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

According to a NPA media statement, the incident took place on 4 April 2021, when Gasengake visited the home of a woman from his church.

PASTOR SENTENCED FOR ARMED ROBBERY

Upon arriving, he ignored two other people in the house and headed straight for the victim’s bedroom.

An argument soon escalated, during which Gasengake attacked the woman, choking her and threatening her with a knife. He stole R4,000 in cash, her bank cards, and the keys to her car. He then fled the scene using the stolen vehicle.

STABBING HIS WIFE

After the robbery, Gasengake drove to his home in Lichtenburg, where he stabbed his wife without any provocation. He then fled the area, prompting police to open cases of robbery and attempted murder.

Two days later, on 6 April Gasengake was arresteed in Vryburg after the stolen vehicle was traced. The victim positively identified him during a police lineup.

Gasengake was also previously convicted in November 2022 for the attempted murder of his wife, for which he received a 10-year sentence. This latest robbery conviction adds to his growing list of criminal offenses.