By REGINALD KANYANE
10 April 2025- Five men from Pofadder were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court sitting in Upington for rape. The accused, Waybril Gertse (41), Graham Gertse (31), Virnit Priega (40), Alfonsus Visagie (55) and Andre Magerman (34) rape a girl (9), who is an orphan.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said the young child was orphaned after the passing of her mother and grandmother. Kock said the accused was sadly raped by five accused between 2017 and 2020.
āShe was placed in the care of her aunt, who reported the incidents to the Northern Cape Department of Social Development in Pofadder. Subsequently, an investigation was launched by the police.
āAll the accused were arrested during September 2020, and bail was successfully opposed. The Northern Cape High Court sitting in Upington delivered a guilty verdict on 20 December 2024, and sentenced the accused on 10 April 2025,ā he said.
Kock further said accused 1, Waybril Gertse was sentenced to life imprisonment, accused 2, Graham Gertse was sentenced to life imprisonment, accused 3, Virnit Priega was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, accused 4, Alfonsus Visagie was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment, while accused 5, Andre Magerman was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He added that their names will be registered in the National Register for Sex Offenders and were declared unfit to possess firearms.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended Detective Sergeant John Nortje from Pofadder FCS for his unwavering dedication and meticulous investigation that led to these outstanding GBVF convictions. Otola reiterated that SAPS in collaboration with prosecutors, will continue to fight the scourge of GBVF and commended the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for their role in ensuring that no impunity is granted to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
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