Family and friends of three Mamelodi schoolgirls applauded after the two men who raped and killed them were each given four life sentences on Tuesday.

Judge Sisi Khampepe sentenced Ephraim Mkhali (26) and Vusi Maphai (38) to four life terms and 15 years imprisonment for the "brutal and savage" April 2006 murder, rape and robbery of childhood friends Tsholofelo Aphane, Lindiwe Mbonane and Lerato Ndinisa.

They were each found guilty on three charges of murder, one of rape and one of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

All of the sentences are to run concurrently.

The three girls were attacked in the Mamelodi West park where they were relaxing, robbed of their cellphones and then tied up with their own shoelaces and brutally raped before they were strangled or smothered.

Khampepe said the manner in which the three girls were raped demonstrated the brutality of the accused.

Although the victims were not alive to tell the tale of their horrendous ordeal at the hands of the accused, medical evidence demonstrated the severity of the crimes, the judge said.

"I can hardly contemplate what went through these young women's minds as they realised they were going to die. The accused had shown them no mercy."

Khampepe said the natural indignation of society about these horrendous crimes was a factor which could not simply be wished away.

The imposition of a life sentence would send a clear message to all criminals that the rights and dignity of all women in our society should be respected at all times.

Police guarding the two accused sneaked them out of court though a back entrance after family members of the murdered girls started hurling insults at them.