By OBAKENG MAJE
A man was sentenced to life imprisonment by Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for raping a woman (30). The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Tshepiso Brown (33) was arrested on 21 September 2020 for raping his neighbour.
“On 19 September 2020, in Huhudi township near Vryburg, Brown hosted the victim, who was his neighbour and other friends at his home. The other friends left at a later stage and the victim indicated that she will leave after finishing her drink.
“Shortly after the friends had left, Brown asked the victim to have sex with him, to which she refused. Brown subsequently assaulted her and dragged her to his bedroom, where he repeatedly raped her before freeing her the next morning,” Mamothame said.
He further said, the victim went home and told her mother about the ordeal. Mamothame said, the mother immediately advised her to report the matter to the police.
“The victim reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested on 21 September 2020. Brown, who was denied bail until the completion of the matter, pleaded not guilty to the charge and insisted to the court that he had consensual intercourse with the victim.
“In aggravating the sentence, the state prosecutor Adv Baakeleng Mothibi urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment,” said Mamothame.
He added that, Mothibi argued that the accused had previous convictions of assault with grievous bodily harm, as well as one of culpable homicide.
“Mothibi further argued that this has destroyed the trust that the victim had in the accused,” he said.
Magistrate Patricia Rangwako agreed with the state and highlighted the prevalence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the responsibility the courts have in sending a strong message to offenders and wannabe offenders.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo lauded the prosecutor and the investigating officer for a collaboration that yielded a desired outcome.
“Rape should never be tolerated and the criminal justice system should continue dealing harshly with perpetrators of this offence”, she concluded,” Sekhaolelo said.
The Guardian 