Parolee sentenced to two life terms for rape of 14-year-old neighbour
A 39-year-old parolee from Olievenhoutbosch has been sentenced to two life terms for the rape of his 14-year-old neighbour, after the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court found him guilty on two counts of rape.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the court ordered that the sentences run concurrently and that the man’s name be entered into the National Register of Sexual Offenders. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The rapes took place on two occasions in October 2021, when the man lured the girl into his room, locked the door and assaulted her. On one occasion, he gave her R150 to keep silent.
The crimes came to light in May 2022, when the victim asked her mother for money.
“When the mother questioned her, the victim told her mother that the man had once given her money after raping her,” Lumka said.
The matter was reported to police the same day, leading to the man’s arrest.
The girl was taken to the Laudium Thuthuzela Care Centre, where she received medical, psychological, and legal support.
In court, the man pleaded not guilty, claiming that the victim’s family had influenced her to falsely accuse him. However, State Prosecutor Advocate Chester Molaba presented evidence that proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The defence argued that the court should deviate from the prescribed life sentence because the man was a taxi driver and father of two children. But Adv Molaba opposed this, stressing that the accused was already on parole for a previous rape conviction in 2009.
“He committed this offence of rape while on parole for committing a similar offence of rape which he was convicted of in 2009, as such he cannot be rehabilitated,” Molaba told the court, calling for life imprisonment.
Magistrate Themba Ndandwe agreed, finding that the man had shown no remorse and posed an ongoing danger to the community. He said there were no compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence.
“The courts have a duty to protect communities.”
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng, Advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren, praised the prosecutor’s handling of the case.
“All cases of sexual violence violate the rights to dignity and privacy of victims, as guaranteed in our Constitution; therefore, the NPA will continue to prosecute such cases vigorously,” she said.
The NPA highlighted the crucial role of its Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs), which provide holistic support to survivors of gender-based violence. In this case, the Laudium TCC ensured the victim received continuous psychosocial, medical, and legal care.
“The NPA urges families and communities to remain vigilant, report abuse promptly, and support survivors through TCCs,” Lumka said.
“Parents and guardians are encouraged to recognise signs of abuse and take swift action to protect children.”
The authority also called on all South Africans to “unite against gender-based violence to create safe environments where children’s constitutional rights to dignity and safety are upheld, and perpetrators face the full might of the law.”
IOL News