By Obakeng Maje

Hopetown-The SAPS welcomes the rape and attempted rape sentencing which was passed on the 7 August 2013 in the Hopetown Magistrates’ Court. Simon Mans(20) was sentenced to an effective fifteen years imprisonment after he raped a 32 year old female and attempted to rape 26 year old female in Gou Trou Plakkers, Hopetown, during July and August 2012.

All this came after Detective Sgt Japie Peterson of the Hopetown SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences ensured that he brought water tight cases to the Court of Law. 

“The first female victim(32) was enjoying a drink at a house where they were sitting around a fire during the evening of 7 July 2012. She decided to take a walk to a nearby tavern and this is when the accused met her along the way and offered to walk with her” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

Kock said along the road the accused grabbed and dragged her into an unknown house. He threatened to stab her if she screamed. He then raped her and also forced her to have oral sex with him. 

“The accused then ran away and left the complainant inside the house” he said.

A month later the same accused followed another 26 year old female when she was walking home from a party at approximately 03:30am. The accused also offered to walk with her.  

“When they arrived at her house he asked her to give him a glass so that he could drink some brandy he had with him. After the drink she requested him to leave” Kock said. 

The accused then grabbed and choked the complainant and repeatedly assaulted her with his fists. 

He requested her to unzip the the pants he was wearing. The complainant continued to scream for help and this is when the accused ran away and was later arrested by the Hopetown Police. The Hopetown Magistrate’s Court imposed a sentencing of 15 years for the rape and 3 years for the attempted rape and this will be running con-currently, henceforth Simon Mans will be serving an effective fifteen years’ imprisonment for this intentional and unlawful crime he committed. “The police hope that this sentencing will serve as a deterrent to others who want to attempt similar crimes, especially as we are celebrating Women’s Month” police said.-TDN

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