By REGINALD KANYANE
A man (47) was sentenced to two life terms imprisonment by the Upington Regional Court (sitting in the Griequatown Circuit Court) for rape. This comes after the accused raped his niece (10).
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said in the early hours of the morning on 8 September 2015, the victim was walking home alone from where she watched TV not far from home.
Senokoatsane said the accused grabbed her and took her close to where her grandparents stayed. He said after threatening her to remain quiet, he demanded that she stay behind when he approached her grandfather and asked him for a blanket.
“The accused then took her into the veld where he raped her two times. After the accused fell asleep, she escaped to their home and immediately reported the incident to her mother.
“The matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested. After the commencement of the trial, the grandfather of the complainant died. The loss suffered by the complainant was a loss to the family and the state as the grandfather was a crucial witness in the case,” said Senokoatsane.
Meanwhile, state prosecutor, Friedle Du Plessis, successfully argued that the statement that the grandfather made be admitted as hearsay evidence. Du Plessis also argued that the court should impose two life sentences as the accused preyed on the vulnerability of the child.
“In sentencing, the accused was convicted on both counts of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment on both counts.
“All cases of sexual violence encroach on the rights to dignity and privacy of the victims as enshrined in our constitution, hence the NPA will continue to aggressively prosecute these types of cases,” said Senokoatsane.
The Guardian 