We raped women who couldn’t pay our fare- Taxi drivers tell court

Guilty: Booi Makhubela and his son Rodgers Image: Sowetan

There is no end to the excuses criminals will make when the law catches up with them. A father and son accused of raping 10 women while pretending to be taxi operators in Guateng South Africa have been convicted  in spite of their spirited but ridiculous defence.

The Makhubelas also claimed that some of the women they raped were prostitutes, while others had agreed to have sex with them for money. They also claimed that in some instances the sex was to make up the difference for the taxi fare!

Judge Roland Sutherland said while he noted that Booi did not rape some of the women, his involvement in the crimes was obvious.

Booi was found guilty on 14 counts of rape, six of robbery with aggravating circumstances, nine of kidnapping and one of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

After the women had boarded their “taxi”, they kidnapped, robbed, assaulted and raped them.

One of their accomplices, Issack Nxumalo, is already serving a 20-year jail term after he confessed to the crime.