By OBAKENG MAJE
A man from Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Schweizer Reneke Regional Court for raping a pregnant girl (17). Deon Neo Masetlo was further sentenced to five years for assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said in 2018, Masetlo came across the complainant and grabbed her, while hurling insults at her. Mamothame further said, he then instructed her to go with him to an unknown location, where she subsequently attempted to escape, but failed as she fell and injured herself.
“He then took out a knife and threatened her to the point that she gave in and walked with him. The complainant only knew the accused by sight as one of the gang members at the Ipelegeng location. Along the way, she saw people sitting outside in a yard and she managed to run and ask for help.
“However, Masetlo followed her and threatened some of the men who were reprimanding him. He subsequently assaulted the complainant and told those men that she was the mother of his children. He then took her to a house, where he repeatedly raped her and only allowed her to leave in the morning after she promised to come back if he grants her permission to leave,” he said.
Mamothame added that, the matter was reported to the police and Masetlo was later arrested and denied bail. He said Masetlo pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor, Mpho Sephapo, argued that the complainant was 17 years of age and pregnant, urging the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. Sephapo argued that, the accused had an opportunity to leave when he was reprimanded at the house, where the victim sought refuge.
Magistrate Patricia Rangwako agreed with the state and said that, women and children have a right to free movement, without fearing for their lives. She highlighted the important role that the court must play in protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari together with the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded Sephapo, Warrant Officer Tello Hlatswayo and other role players in bringing the perpetrator to book. They also highlighted the plight of women as a pandemic that needs to be curbed.
Masetlo was declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be entered in the register of sexual offenders.
The Guardian 