By OBAKENG MAJE
15 July 2025- The South African Police Service (SAPS) management in the Northern Cape on Wednesday welcomes the convictions and sentences handed down by the Hopetown Regional Court against three accused individuals. The accused, Klaas van Rooyen (27) was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for rape and an additional three years imprisonment for house-breaking and theft.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the sentences are to run consecutively. Another accused, Jack Jantjies (29) and Jaco Demas (34), were each sentenced to three years imprisonment for house-breaking and theft. Shemane said all three accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
“On 17 May 2019, the victim (28) and her sister were at home when they noticed an unfamiliar smell inside the house. They later went to their respective bedrooms. The following morning, the victim awoke to find that she had been raped and that several valuable items, including a music box, had been stolen.
“The matter was reported to the police and assigned to Detective Sergeant Frans Louw of the Hopetown Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. His thorough investigation led to the recovery of the stolen property, including the music box,” he said.
Shemane further said four suspects were initially arrested in connection with the incident. He added that one of them passed away during the trial.
“Forensic evidence later linked one of the accused to the rape,” said Shemane.
Meanwhile, the SAPS Provincial Management commended Detective Sergeant Frans Louw for his meticulous investigation and further acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and state prosecutor advocate Nicola van Niekerk in securing justice for the victim.
The Guardian 