Man from Northern Cape Province sentenced to two life sentences for child rape

A 32-year-old man, whose name cannot be mentioned to protect his victims, has been sentenced to two life sentences for the rape of two children aged seven and eight.

The man, who lived with the victims and their mother in a small town in the Northern Cape province, was sentenced by the Postmasburg Regional Court after the court found him guilty.

Shocking child rape in the absence of the mother

One night in 2018, the mother left the children with the defendant because she had to search for the older brother, who had allegedly been stabbed to death.

“The accused took advantage of the situation, went into their mother’s bedroom where the two victims were sleeping and started raping the two children,” said Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokeswoman for the regional National Prosecution Office (NPA).

The brave children reported the traumatic experience to their aunt, who immediately informed their mother, who then reported the incident to the police.

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The perpetrator was arrested and charged with two counts of rape.

During the trial, the victims succeeded in naming their perpetrator in court.

Testimonials from victims

“They also showed how the accused covered their mouths with his hand as they cried. And he described in detail the pain they felt as he raped them. These statements from the victims became overwhelming evidence against the accused,” said Senokoatsane.

Senokoatsane added that court preparer Kelebogile Mokgotsi played an important role in the case by assisting with the pair’s testimony.

Regional Public Prosecutor Moloi Kenneth Motsatse also supported the argument, arguing that the accused had abused his power and position of trust to exploit the victims and that he had shown no remorse.

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“In delivering the verdict, the court was satisfied with the evidence presented by the state witnesses, including the medical evidence that the injuries sustained by the two victims were consistent with penetration. The court sentenced the accused to two years’ life imprisonment,” said Senokoatsane.

Registration in the sex offenders register

The court also ordered that his name be included in the National Registry of Sex Offenders (NRSO).

He was also declared unfit to work with children and to own a firearm.

“The National Prosecution Service believes that these verdicts will provide justice and closure to victims and their families by removing perpetrators of these violent crimes from society,” Senokoatsane said.