Modimolle man sentenced to 25 years for hiding in women’s cars and robbing them at knifepoint

Satiel Ramadikela Molobi, 38, has been sentenced to an effective 25 years’ imprisonment by the Modimolle Regional Court for robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and theft out of a motor vehicle. A 38-year-old Limpopo man who terrorised women in Modimolle by hiding inside their vehicles and robbing them at knifepoint has been sentenced to an effective 25 years’ direct imprisonment by the Modimolle Regional Court. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said Satiel Ramadikela Molobi was convicted on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, two counts of kidnapping and one count of theft out of a motor vehicle.

“He was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, five years’ imprisonment for the kidnapping counts combined, and five years’ imprisonment for theft out of a motor vehicle,” Ledwaba said. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 25-year prison term. Molobi was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and/or ammunition in terms of Section 103(4) of the Firearms Control Act.

Ledwaba said the convictions stemmed from incidents that occurred during February 2024 in Modimolle, where Molobi specifically targeted female victims. “He would wait at residential gates and, when victims stopped and exited their vehicles to open the gates, he would enter and hide inside the vehicle. Upon the victims’ return, he would threaten them with a knife and force them to drive around town while robbing them of money, cellphones and jewellery.

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Thereafter, he would flee the scene on foot,” Ledwaba said. Following the circulation of information and an intensive investigation, Molobi was traced and arrested. Sergeant Karabo Monyeki of the Modimolle Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit The provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised Sergeant Karabo Monyeki of the Modimolle Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit for his dedication and commitment in securing the conviction and sentence. Police said the outcome underscores their resolve to ensure perpetrators of violent crime are removed from communities and that justice is served for victims.

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