| 2024/06/19 |
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Joint Media Statement POTCHEFSTROOM – Two rape accused; Joseph Sekoko (38) and Obakeng Pele (32) were each sentenced to life by the Mmabatho and Bafokeng Regional Courts respectively. In the first conviction, on Tuesday, 18 June 2024, the Mmabatho Regional Court imposed a life sentence on Joseph Sekoko (38), for raping his former girlfriend in December 2022, in Buhrmansdrif. The court heard that the victim was on Friday evening, 16 December 2022, waiting along the road in Rooigrond for the police to come and attend to her complaint against her ex-boyfriend. She was still waiting when the ex-boyfriend arrived and forcefully took her to the bushes where she was severely assaulted. The accused kept the victim for three days in the bushes near Buhrmansdrif and raped her several times. The victim managed to escape on Sunday, 18 December 2022, and went back home and informed her grandmother of her ordeal. They were apparently assisted by a local ward councillor to report the matter to the police. The suspect was subsequently arrested in February 2023. On sentencing the accused, the court made order that his name be entered into Sex Offenders Register. In Tlhabane on Friday, 14 June 2024, the Bafokeng Regional Court sentenced Obakeng Pele to life for rape and additional 12 years imprisonment for pointing of firearm. It was reported that the accused went to his girlfriend‘s parental place in Phokeng, then threatened and pointed a neighbour with a firearm. He left the place and went to Lefaragatlhe village near Tlhabane where he kidnapped a woman, then took her to the bushes where he raped her. The accused further took the victim to an incomplete and unoccupied house where he also raped her before allowing her to leave. The incident was reported to the police and Pele was traced with the assistance of members of the community. He eventually handed himself in on Tuesday, 16 May 2023. The court also declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the sentences, which displayed the responsiveness of the entities towards the fight against Gender Based Violence. They also commended the Investigating Officers; Const Moemedi Lefifi and WO Phiri Mfetane as well as the Prosecutors, Advocate Kefentse Diseko and Mr Sangweni Zimema. Ends
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