By BAKANG MOKOTO
15 February 2026- A man (19) from Pella was found guilty of raping his friend (15) by the Pofadder Regional Court on 10 February 2026. The accused was alleged to have been friends with the victim for a long time, but they began a sexual relationship in December 2022.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Thabo Litabe said in January 2025, the victim fell pregnant and her mother was notified by the Northern Cape Department of Health. Litabe said the matter was reported to the police and the suspect was subsequently arrested.
“He pleaded guilty to the charges and appeared before court on several occasions after the case was assigned to Detective Constable Franklin Afrikaner of Pofadder Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
“The court also found him guilty of statutory rape and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of the same offence within that period,” he said.
Litabe further said the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Commander, Brigadier Schalk Andrews commended the investigating officer for securing a conviction. Andrews reiterated that crimes committed against women and children will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be harshly dealt with.
The Guardian 