| 2024/06/16 |
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Media Statement POLOKWANE – The Groblersdal Regional Court has meted out a lengthy jail sentence of 20 years to a rape accused aged 31, on Thursday, 13 June 2024. The court heard that on 11 October 2022, the accused raped a five-year-old child, who is his neighbour. The victim was playing at the streets with her friends when the accused gave her money (R1.00) to buy sweets. When the little girl returned, the same man gave her another money. He thereafter grabbed her to a nearby abandoned house wherein he sexually violated her. The victim’s mother was alerted by one of the kids that were playing with her that the accused left with her child. She then followed them, and she caught him while busy with the ordeal. Upon noticing the victim’s mother, he released the girl. The incident was reported to the police and a rape case was registered against the accused at the police station. The docket was transferred to Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit at Groblersdal, and it was investigated by Sergeant Thabitha Letlad The suspect was traced and later arrested for rape. Subsequent to trial appearances, the accused (31) was sentenced to direct 20 years in prison, and declared unfit to possess a firearm, and he will be registered on national sexual offenders register.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the conviction and sentencing by the court and further praised the investigating officer, the arresting team , prosecutions and all involved for removing this perpetrator within the community.
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