| 2024/10/23 |
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Media Statement BLOEMFONTEIN – The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units in the Free State recently secured significant successes in courts, resulting in a total of 105 years’ and six life terms of imprisonment on 15 cases in the fight against gender-based violence, underscoring our commitment to creating a safer community for all. Over the past two weeks, our dedicated officers have worked tirelessly to investigate and build strong cases against offenders. As a result, we have achieved notable convictions for gender-based violence-related offenses, demonstrating our unwavering resolve to hold perpetrators accountable. Recent successes include: KROONSTAD In Maokeng, a 31-year-old man was arrested after it came to the attention of the 12-year-old girl’s parents that he has been raping her. The man, who is the boyfriend to the victim’s mother, was sentenced by Kroonstad Regional Court to six years’ of direct imprisonment. MAOKENG The 25-year-old man was arrested in Phomolong, Maokeng, back in 2020 after his alleged 13-year-old girlfriend informed her parents that he raped her. He was charged with statutory rape and sentenced to eight years’ of direct imprisonment. BLOEMSPRUIT A 26-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 17-year old girl whilst sleeping at his house. The girl was taken to his place on 01 January 2023, by her boyfriend to rest and when she woke up, the accused was busy raping her. KOPANONG On 01 January 2017 at about 06:00, the 21-year-old suspect, staying at an orphanage, attacked and raped a 13-year-old resident of the orphanage. The suspect was arrested and found guilty of rape. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. BAYSWATER In the two months of May 2023 and June 2023, the 14-year-old accused compelled three victims, aged 11, 11 and 10, to have sex. The victims were assaulted and taken to a garage, where they were forced to do the sexual acts. The suspect was arrested and given three years’ of imprisonment. LADYBRAND A 34-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old from Manyatseng in Ladybrand on 28 February 2023. She was at home with her niece when she informed her that she was raped and threatened by the accused. ZASTRON In December 2020, the 16-year-old accompanied her cousin to a room in Zastron. On arrival, they both had consensual sex. The victim later reported the matter to her parents, who took her to open a case docket at Zastron police station. The cousin was arrested and sentenced to three years’ of direct imprisonment. BLOEMSPRUIT Back in 2023, the victim testified that her ex-boyfriend forced her from the street to his house. He assaulted her with open hands and with an iron rod, forced her to undress and raped her. The next day she told him she wanted to go home; he boiled water on the stove and instructed her to sit down and poured the boiling water on her legs and that resulted in her skin peeling off. The next day the victim managed to escape and cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, rape and kidnapping. The 24-year-old Katleho Metsing was arrested and sentenced to 10 years’ for assault GBH, life imprisonment for rape and three years direct imprisonment for kidnapping. THABONG On Sunday, 29 May 2022 at about 18:30, police received information about an abandoned child in Thabong. The baby was discovered in the nearby bushes by a passer-by. Thorough interviews were conducted and the 35-year-old mother was arrested, charged with child abandonment and sentenced to five years’ of direct imprisonment. SENEKAL A serial rapist, Moeketsi Sidwell Lebuso (29) was sentenced to three life terms in prison for multiple rapes dating back to 2017. He was furthermore sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for the assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The rape crimes occurred in November 2017, September 2021 where he also assaulted the victim in July 2022. He was arrested after this rape and the DNA results came back, which linked him to three rapes. WARDEN The 48-year-old victim was on her way to work in Warden when she was attacked by her boyfriend, who beat her with an iron cord and raped her. A case was opened and 45-year-old Buti Shadrack Mbele was arrested and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. MAOKENG On 1 March 2022, the 12-year-old victim alleges that she was with her mother’s boyfriend (31) watching TV when he started to touch her appropriately. She asked him not to do it. The accused then told her he would hit her if she didn’t let him touch her. The next day, the suspect raped the victim four more times and he was arrested and sentenced to six years’ by Kroonstad Regional Court. The above-mentioned successes are a testimony to the unwavering commitment of the police to bring perpetrators to justice. Ends
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