By STAFF REPORTER
25 March 2026- Three men, Wanico Zain Brown (22), Ishan Marvin Buys (22) and Cravan Shaun Liberty (24) from Eersterust were sentenced to life imprisonment each by the Pretoria Regional Court for raping a girl (17). The incident occurred on the night of 1 September 2018, in Eersterust.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said the victim attended a party, where she met the three men. Mahanjana said they took her to Brown’s residence in the same area, where they all consumed drugs.
“The men then simultaneously raped her by penetrating her mouth, anus, and vagina. The following morning at around 6am, the three men chased the victim out of the house. On her way home, she told a relative of a friend what had happened and immediately reported the matter to the police.
“All three men were arrested at their homes on 6 September 2018. The victim received comprehensive support at the Mamelodi Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), including medical care, psychological counselling, and legal assistance,” she said.
Mahanjana further said in court, all three accused pleaded not guilty. She added that they claimed the victim had offered to have sexual intercourse with them in exchange for R100, but that they did not proceed.
“However, the state prosecutor, Annalise Stiles presented compelling evidence, including the victim’s testimony, which proved their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“During sentencing, the accused asked the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, arguing that they were young first offenders and that the victim had not sustained permanent physical injuries such as stab wounds,” said Mahanjana.
She said Stiles strongly opposed this, emphasising the extreme seriousness and prevalence of the crime. Mahanjana said Stiles pointed out that the men showed no remorse, that the victim, a 17-year-old virgin at the time, had sustained internal vaginal injuries and external bruises and that the three men had taken advantage of her while she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“Stiles also read the Victim Impact Statement (VIS) facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Kgomotso Lodi, in which the victim described the severe emotional and psychological trauma she continues to suffer.
The court declared the three men unfit to possess firearms.
The magistrate Kallie Bosch agreed with the state. Kallie described the crime as heinous and degrading, noting the particularly humiliating way the rape was carried out.
“The victim’s ongoing emotional and psychological harm as detailed in the Victim Impact Statement. So, the court found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence and sentenced each of the three men to life imprisonment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mahanjana said the NPA’s Thuthuzela Care Centres continue to provide critical psychosocial support to victims, reflecting our victim-centred approach to gender-based violence cases. She said the NPA calls on all South Africans to unite against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and to create safe environments, where the constitutional rights of children, particularly their right to dignity and safety, are fully protected.
“Perpetrators must face the full might of the law,” concluded Mahanjana.
The Guardian 