By REGINALD KANYANE
2 October 2024- A boy (15) was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Tlhabane Magistrate’s Court for four counts of rape. The boy committed these cases over the last three years.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said On 5 September 2022, a girl (12), was walking home after school. Myburgh said she was approached by the suspect, who was her classmate.
“He grabbed her water bottle and ran away. The victim chased after him into a secluded area, where she was overpowered and raped. In a second incident reported on 16 June 2023, a girl (11), was riding her bicycle in the street when the suspect offered to repair the damages on it.
“After fixing the bicycle, he rode it into the nearby bushes, while testing it. A girl followed him and he then attempted to rape her. However, a man who was a passer-by intervened,” she said.
Myburgh further said the boy fled the scene. She added that in a third incident that was reported on 3 October 2023, a boy (11), was riding home on his bicycle, when the suspect forcefully took it.
“He fled with it and the victim followed him, while pleading with him to give back his bicycle. Furthermore, he rode into the nearby bushes, where he overpowered the boy and raped him.
“The fourth incident was reported on 1 February 2024. A girl (5), was playing in the neighbour’s yard when the suspect joined her. He called her behind a shack where he raped her,” said Myburgh.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the sentence and applauded the Investigating Officer, Constable Tsekiso Tau of Lichtenburg Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. Kwena also commended the prosecution for their teamwork and being equal to the task of ensuring that the accused is convicted.
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