By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A 22-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to eighteen years’ imprisonment by Potchefstroom Regional Court for rape. It is alleged that, the accused raped a girl (14) in Ikageng Township, near Potchefstroom in 2019.
North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said, the victim was walking from school in the afternoon and waited for her parents at their neighbours’ house. The accused’s mother, who was playing cards at another neighbour’s house, sent the minor to go and fetch her sniff in her room.
“The accused, who was watching television, directed the minor to his mother’s bedroom. He then followed the minor to the bedroom. The minor was about to leave the room when the accused called her back and instructed her to take off her clothes.
The terrified girl refused, the accused assaulted her with a belt and forced her to undress. The accused then raped the child and instructed her not to disclose the incident to any person,” Funani said.
Later in December 2021, the minor was home with her brother and reading about rape in her textbook. She cried uncontrollably when she recalled what happened to her in 2019.
She said the brother ultimately called his parents, with whom the minor disclosed the rape incident. Funani said the matter was reported at Ikageng Police Station and the accused was arrested.
“He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, of which two years were suspended for a period of five years on condition that the accused is not convicted of rape or any sexual offence committed during the period of suspension.
“The accused’s name will be included in the National Child Protection Register according to the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005). Moreover, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000),” said Funani.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the sentence handed down to the accused.
“We want to congratulate Sergeant Jacob Ranoko of the Potchefstroom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, who worked hard together with other role players.
“This includes the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management (CR&CSM) officials as well as prosecution to ensure that the accused was sentenced although the case was reported after a year. The case will serve as an indication that the rule of law has no deadline,” he said.
The Guardian 