| 2024/07/22 |
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Media Statement UPINGTON – The SAPS will remain focused on prioritizing gender-based violence and femicide crimes. Hence, the SAPS Management welcomes the recent 25 years’ imprisonment sentence handed down to Gerrit De Wee (21) for raping two males in Groblershoop. On 03 April 2022, the 18-year-old male victim was on his way home at about midnight, from a local tavern in Groblershoop. He was accosted by the accused who forcefully dragged him into nearby bushes in Theresa Valley and raped him. De Wee was arrested the next day but was later released on R500 bail. While out on bail, he struck again and pounced on his second victim on 01 February 2023. At approximately midday, the 15-year-old boy was out herding cattle near the Orange River when the accused accosted and threatened him with a knife and raped him. De Wee was arrested the following day and remained in custody until his sentencing in the Groblershoop Regional Court on 19 July 2024. The two cases were trialed together, and the accused was sentenced as follows: Count 1: Rape of the 18-year-old male: 10 years’ imprisonment. Count 2: Rape of the 15-year-old male: 15 years’ imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently. The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended Detective Sergeants Lebogang Mokwene and Elliot Geya from the Upington Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for their excellent investigative work that led to the outstanding GBVF convictions. Ends
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