By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A man (21) was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Groblershoop Regional Court for raping two men. On 3 April 2022, a victim (18) was on his way home at around midnight from a local tavern in Groblershoop, when he was accosted by Gerrit De Wee.
Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said De Wee forcefully dragged him into nearby bushes in Theresa Valley and raped him. Kock said De Wee was arrested the next day, but was later released on R500 bail.
“While out on bail, he struck again and pounced on his second victim on 1 February 2023. At approximately midday, a boy (15) was out grazing cattle near the Orange River, when the accused accosted and threatened him with a knife and raped him.
“De Wee was arrested the following day and remained in custody until his sentencing in the Groblershoop Regional Court on 19 July 2024. The two cases were trialled together and the accused was sentenced to 10 years for raping a man (18) and 15 year imprisonment for raping a boy (15),” he said.
Kock further said the sentences will run concurrently. He added that the SAPS will remain focused on prioritizing Gender-Based Violence AND Femicide (GBVF) crimes.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended Detective Sergeants Lebogang Mokwene and Elliot Geya from the Upington Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for their excellent investigative work that led to the outstanding GBVF convictions.
The Guardian 