By BAKANG MOKOTO

Two accused sentenced to life imprisonment for rape by the North Gauteng High Court on Friday. The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said, this follows after the accused gang raped the girl (14) back in 2019.

“The incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning on 25 December 2019 at Letlhabile near Brits. It was reported during the court proceedings that the victim and her male friend were walking home at about 4am after attending a music festival when confronted by four suspicious males.

“One of the males grabbed the victim and took her to the nearby bushes, where he and one of his companions took turns in raping her. They then compelled the victim’s male friend to rape her,” Funani said.

She further said, upon realising that the friend was only pretending to be raping his friend, they assaulted him. Funani added that the friend of the victim pretended to be unconscious.

“The two accused then continued to rape the victim. The third male (26) left the scene with the victim’s cell-phone. He further robbed other festival attendees of their valuables including their cell-phones.

“One of the victims saw the police who were on patrol and informed them about the robbery. The victim identified the accused and as a result, he was arrested. The initial gang rape suspects were apprehended later the same day. They were found to be in possession of items reported stolen by the victims,” she said.

Funani said subsequently, the three accused were found to be in possession of the minor’s cell-phone and clothes. Moreover, the two accused aged 27 and 32 were linked to the rape through the DNA results. 

“One of the four accused was eventually released as he could not be linked to the crimes. The accused (26) was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for common robbery, while two accused aged 27 and 32 were sentenced to two years imprisonment each for kidnapping.

“They were also found guilty of armed robbery and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each, 10 years each for attempted compelled rape, five years imprisonment each for assault and life sentence imprisonment each for rape,” said Funani.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the Brits Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for securing yet another two life sentences in one week. Kwena said it shows that the unit is committed to the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by ensuring that maximum jail terms are imposed on the two accused.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the embattled North West province on 12 March 2022 in quest to institutionalise the District Development Model (DDM).

Following the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa will undertake the DDM Presidential Imbizo to Mahikeng.

The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) spokesperson, Lungi Mtshali said in a statement that, Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the North West Premier, Bushy Maape and various Cabinet Ministers including the DDM champions, North West Province MECs, Mayors and Councillors.

“As per the President’s message in the 2022 State of Nations Address (SoNA), the government must work for the people. This speaks to the need to build an ethical, capable, and developmental state that delivers on its mandate.

“To this effect, being a public-participation platform, the Presidential Imbizo to the North West will provide government an opportunity to assess the level of service delivery in the province, to assess the extends to which Section 100 intervention was successful, assess the extent to which DDM has been institutionalised,” Mtshali said.

According to Mtshali, this will also provide Ramaphosa with an opportunity to listen to the people and respond to their concerns and recommendations.

He said the Presidential Imbizo will assist to highlight challenges and unblock any blockages to service delivery in line with the District Development Model (DDM), which is an all of government and society approach that enables integrated and responsive planning, implementation and budgeting through the ‘One Plans’.

“Ahead of the Presidential Imbizo on 12 March 2022, a number of build-up events will be held led by national, provincial and municipal leadership. The programme of stakeholders engagements, community meetings, walk about in communities and high traffic areas like Shopping centres and taxi or bus ranks and door to door engagements,” said Mtshali.

He said the communities will during this period be given an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers to issues that concern them.

“Some of the questions will be responded to during the Presidential Imbizo event taking place on 12 March 2022. In line with the COVID-19 pandemic regulations, attendance of the Imbizo will be limited to two thousand community members,” he said.

Mtshali said for those who won’t be able to attend physically, a provision has been made to broadcast the speeches live through various platforms (Radio Stations, TV channels and social media platforms).

In 2018, the North West province was ravaged by #SupraMustFall protests and that forced Ramaphosa to put it under Section 100.

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