By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
11 March 2025- A man (27) was sentenced to a combined 16 years imprisonment for two rapes. On 11 April 2021 at around 1:50am, a woman (18), was walking home alone through the bushes when she was attacked.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said the victim was dragged to an abandoned house, where she was raped repeatedly. Masegela said the victim identified the accused, Desmond Abrahams, and later reported the case.
“Abrahams was arrested and he was granted bail. His Buccal DNA sample was taken and sent to the lab for testing.
“Another rape case was reported in Kanoeneiland on 1 November 2021, after a woman (59), was at home preparing to sleep, and an unknown man entered her locked house and attacked her,” he said.
Masegela said the victim passed out and woke up the following morning naked. He said she reported the matter to the police and a rape case was registered.
“The accused was linked to the rape case through DNA samples and was arrested. His bail application was denied and he remained in custody until his conviction.
“On 27 February 2025, Abrahams was found guilty on both rape cases and convicted. He was sentenced to 9 years and 7 years imprisonment respectively, which he will serve them separately. Furthermore, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearm Control Act,” said Masegela.
Meanwhile, the acting ZF Mgcawu District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Peet Coetzee, commended the meticulous investigation by Sergeant Lebogang Mokwene attached to Upington Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit. Coetzee said the police will continue with intensified investigations on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) related cases to ensure that they leave no stone unturned.
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