| 2024/05/28 |
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Joint Media Statement POTCHEFSTROOM – The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari hailed the life sentence handed down on Monday, 27 May 2024, to a 33-year-old stepfather for rape. The court heard that the accused raped his 12-year-old stepdaughter at their residential place, in Tlhabane, outside Rustenburg on Thursday, 01 June 2023. The accused got home drunk on Thursday night, and had a quarrel with the victim’s mother who left the accused with her two children, aged five and 12, and went to sleep at her friend’s place. The accused subsequently raped the 12-year-old who was sleeping at the sitting room. The victim informed her mother of the incident when she came back the following day. As a result, the matter was reported to the police and the suspect was arrested at his home in Moruleng. On aggravating for a maximum sentence, the Prosecutor, Adv Zola Mpayipheli said that the accused showed no remorse during the trail. He said rape is a serious offense and it will leave the child with a permanent scar on her life. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). In another separate case, Mogwase Magistrates’ Court sentenced a 24-year-old Moeti Sefale to 15 years’ imprisonment for murder, on Monday, 27 May 2024. The accused, who is a Lesotho foreign national, was also given three months imprisonment for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002. Evidence led in court revealed that Sefale assaulted his girlfriend with a stone and ultimately killed her on Saturday, 30 July 2022, at Mononono Village, near Mogwase outside Rustenburg. Although the accused fled the scene after the incident, he was successfully traced and arrested on the same day. He has been in custody ever since his arrest, and was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and Dr Rachel Makhari, commended the Investigating Officer, Sgt Mmamotse Moshe and the Prosecutor Adv Zola Mpayipheli for working together to secure the life imprisonment, which they said will without doubt send a clear message that those who violate women and children will be dealt with harshly. Ends
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