By OBAKENG MAJE
A man (36) has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for Contravention of Section 22 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 32 of 2007) by the Rustenburg Regional Court. Zoliswa Menziwa was found with five other congregants naked, together with 11 children in a house that was used as a church at Sondela Phase 1, Boitekong Township, outside Rustenburg on 1 June 2022.
The North West police spokesperson, Captain Sam Tselanyane said Menziwa was the only individual who was found clothed at the time and she was allegedly the church leader. Tselanyane further said subsequent to preliminary investigations, all children between the ages of 4 and 12 (six boys and five girls), were removed from the house and handed to social workers for intervention.
“They were ultimately placed under the care of other family members. The case was then allocated to the Rustenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for further investigation.
“Subsequent to thorough investigations conducted by the Unit Commander, Colonel Mosidi Mafora and Warrant Officer Phiri Mfetane, the accused was found guilty as charged, while the other five accused were acquitted,” he said.
Tselenyane added that Menziwa was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, which is wholly suspended for a period of 5 years on condition that she is not convicted of the same charge during the period of suspension.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the sentencing of the accused. Kwena said the police remain committed to fighting crimes against women and children.
“Defending the vulnerable will always remain a priority for the men and women in blue in the province. We also laud the Investigating Team for the sterling job in ensuring that the perpetrators of this kind of crimes face the full might of the law,” he said.
The Guardian 