MAN SENTENCED FOLLOWING ATTACK ON MINORS IN MABOLELA VILLAGE
The Phuthaditjhaba Regional Court has handed down a lengthy prison sentence to a man found guilty of multiple violent crimes committed against four minor victims in Mabolela Village on Christmas Day 2023.
The Rapist was convicted and sentenced to a total of 43 years of imprisonment.
According to the Free State Policespokesperson Capt Loraine Earle the incident occurred in the early hours of 25 December 2025, when a 16-year-old girl, who was home with her siblings aged 14 and 8, was awakened by the sound of someone kicking down the door of their house. She instructed her siblings to hide under the bed in another room while she concealed herself in the bedroom where they had been sleeping.
The intruder broke into the house, found the 16-year-old hiding, and raped her. He proceeded to the other bedroom where he attempted to rape the 14-year-old but did not follow through, instead assaulting her and making disturbing comments.
The Rapist also attempted to hang both the 16-year-old and 14-year-old victims after the assault.
In a further act of cruelty, the Rapist forced the 8-year-old boy to drink a cup of Jik bleach and hid him between the bed and mattress. The 14-year-old victim managed to free herself from the bindings, untied her sister, and the two searched for their younger sibling. They found him unconscious, with foam coming from his mouth.
The 16-year-old ran outside and screamed for help. Community members responded swiftly and contacted the police.
The Rapist was traced and arrested the same night.
The case was diligently investigated by Sergeant Johannes Hlobe from the Phuthaditjhaba Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit. The rapist faced four counts of attempted murder, housebreaking, rape and attempted rape.
His name will be added into the Sexual Offences register
His name cannot be mentioned to protect the identity of the victims