Nearly a third of Gauteng's most violent criminals will never walk the streets again after being sentenced to extra-long jail terms, including life.
The heinous crimes committed by these criminals include the murder, rape and assault of hundreds of men, women, children.
Dozens of police officers have also died or been left permanently maimed by the 424 criminals who were sentenced to 20 years and more in prisons throughout Gauteng.
Of these 424 men and women sentenced to prison last year, 136 will spend the rest of their lives in prison.
| 'We want those who are intent on breaking the law that their days are numbered' |
Twenty-eight of those sentenced to life imprisonment are serving double life sentences. Three are serving triple life sentences and another three are serving seven life sentences each.
All 136 criminals were sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes ranging from murder, abduction, kidnapping, rape to armed robbery.
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Of the 136, seven were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pretoria High Court, five, including an uncle and a father, were put behind bars for raping and sodomising children.
One of the five rapists sentenced in Pretoria was given a triple life sentence for the rape of a Pretoria woman, who headed a place of safety, in 2000, as well as two children placed under her care.
An Akasia father was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 44 years in the capital's High Court for the murder of his seven-year-old daughter, her best friend and the attempted murder of his girlfriend in 1998.
The seventh man was sentenced to life imprisonment in Pretoria for the hijacking and murder of a Pretoria West minibus-taxi driver in 2001.
In Pretoria 35 criminals are to serve a collective sentence of 970 years for murder, rape, armed robbery, attempted murder and assault.
Two of the 35 are serving 39 and 50 years prison sentences respectively for the murder of two off-duty Pretoria policemen who were gunned down in 2001 and 2003.
Both killers were described by judges as menaces to society who should be removed from the community for extremely long periods of time.
On the East Rand, 32 people were sentenced to life imprisonment, while 70 people were given sentences of 20 years and more.
In the West Rand area, 36 criminals received life sentences, while 84 people were sentenced to more than 20 years' imprisonment.
On the North Rand, 65 people were given sentences of 20 years and more, while 16 criminals were sentenced to life behind bars.
In the Soweto policing area, 19 criminals were given life sentences while 76 were sentenced to more than 20 years behind bars.
In the Vaal Rand, 16 people were handed the life sentences and 33 were sentenced to 20 years and more in prison.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Perumal Naidoo said these sentences had not been arrived at easily. Many sacrifices were made by police to ensure that the criminals spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
He said the successful convictions had been made possible by the extreme dedication from a very small group of people who had given their lives to their communities.
"People seldom take notice of what happens to criminals if you are not a victim; therefore, the public need to be thankful for what policemen and women do to protect them."
"The investigating officers often spend many hours away from their families, travel great distances and often put themselves at risk to keep our streets safe."
"These sentences are a true reflection of how people feel about crime. It is a sign that the country's justice system will no longer stand for these horrific acts," he said.
Warning criminals that they could no longer operate with impunity, Naidoo said he was extremely proud of both the police officers, as well as the prosecuting authorities for the role they play in ensuring the successful prosecution of criminals."
"We want those who are intent on breaking the law that their days are numbered and that they will be hunted down without mercy and prosecuted," he said.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Pretoria News on May 11, 2004
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