A man has been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment by the Taung Regional Court for rape. On 13 January 2021, Pogisho Joseph Skalk (27) forcefully entered the house through a window, where he found an elderly woman (62) asleep at Mountain View, near Pampierstad.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said, Shalk assaulted and raped her. Pilane further said the accused was positively linked to the rape through DNA.
“He was arrested on 18 March 2022 and his bail application was successfully denied until he was convicted and sentenced. In addition to the hefty sentence, he was declared unfit to own a firearm,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola said, they welcomed the sentence and lauded the good investigative work of Detective Sergeant Daniel Nhlathi of Hartswater FCS Unit. Otola added that they embraced the sentencing and urged the community to take a stand, instead of keep quiet about GBV-related cases.
A man has been sentenced to two life terms of imprisonment by the Taung Regional Court for two counts of rape, sexual assault and robberies. Hans Appie (50), committed these heinous crimes between 2013 and 2014, wherein he terrorised women and children going to school and work, in Pampierstad.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the accused would rob his victims of their belongings and in some instances, assault and rape them. Mamothame said with the youngest of the victims being 17 years of age.
“The police managed to link him to these offences through DNA samples, after he was arrested on 16 March 2014. He was denied bail and he pleaded not guilty to all charges, alleging he was in a love affair with the victims.
“The matter was subsequently transferred to the Taung Regional Court for trial, owing to its serious nature. Appie was sentenced to two life terms on two counts of rape, 15 years for rape, 5 years for sexual assault, 15 years on each of the four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and 8 years on each of the two counts of attempted murder,” he said.
Mamothame further said, the court declared that, Appie’s name be registered in the national register of sexual offenders and also declared him unfit to work with children.
In aggravation of sentence, the state senior prosecutor, Adv Zoleka Majikijela, urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, considering the seriousness of the offences he committed.
Magistrate Thataetsile Matolong agreed with the state and remarked on the responsibility the courts have to protect members of society from such offenders.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, Sergeant Sidwell Dastile from the South African Police Service and Court Preparation Officer, Molebogeng Oliphant, who provided counselling and guidance to the victims in preparation for trial, for their collaboration in ending the suffering of the women and children in Pampierstad in the hands of the accused.
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