By BAKANG MOKOTO
A man (55) has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Tlhabane Regional Court for sexually assaulting his niece (6). On 1 January 2018, the family was celebrating New Year’s Day at their home just after midnight.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the mother of the victim noticed that her child was not with her cousins where they were playing. She subsequently went to the back of the house to look for the child, and found her next to the uncle, looking frightened.
“Upon enquiring why she was frightened, she told her mother that the uncle kissed her and inserted his finger in her private parts. The child was subsequently taken for medical examination and the matter was reported to the police.
“The accused was arrested two days later and granted bail. He then failed to appear in court, and a warrant of his arrest was issued. He was re-arrested and remained in police custody until the completion of the trial. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and it was discovered during investigations that. he had two previous convictions of rape that occurred in 1988 and 1999,” he said.
Mamothame further said the court declared him unfit to possess a firearm and for his name to be included in the register of sexual offenders. He added, the accused was also declared undesirable to work with children.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Sangweni Zimema, highlighted to the court the trust that the child had for the accused, and he instead abused it.
Magistrate Segakweng Moeng, agreed with the state and remarked that the age of the accused and the severity of the case cumulatively constitute compelling and substantial factors, resulting in a 20-year jail term.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, Warrant Officer Obed Ramahoyo, and other role players for a collaboration that yielded a successful conviction.
The Guardian 