A teacher who raped his girlfriend’s friend will soon learn his fate as sentencing has been scheduled for December. 

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the State will ask the court to hand down a strong custodial sentence against Thabile Manentsa – the prescribed minimum sentence for rape is 15 years’ imprisonment. 

The court declared that the State had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted the accused on the preferred charge of rape.

The matter will return to the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on December 2 for pre-sentence reports.

Ntabazalila said the reports were requested by Manentsa’s lawyer.

“State prosecutor Anele Pike will ask the court to at least impose the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years’ direct imprisonment, as she will strongly argue that there are no substantial and compelling circumstances which allow the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.

“Pike successfully prosecuted Manentsa for the rape of his girlfriend’s friend on the night of September 1, 2023, in his house in Plettenberg Bay after the victim and her friend (who was the accused’s girlfriend at the time) spent the night at his place,” said Ntabazalila.

The State led evidence, which showed that the victim and her friend started the day with a dinner date at a restaurant at the Knysna Waterfront. They then moved to a club, where they further enjoyed themselves. 

According to details that emerged in court, Ntabazalila said, the two friends arranged to watch a soccer tournament in Plettenberg Bay the next day, September 2, 2023.

The friends went to the victim’s flat, where an argument occurred between the victim’s flatmate and her friend.   

“The accused’s girlfriend contacted him and asked him to fetch her from Knysna. The accused was in Plettenberg Bay, where he was residing. The victim joined them to drive to Plettenberg Bay as she planned to watch the soccer tournament the next day. They drove to the accused’s house, where his girlfriend slept on the bed and the victim on the couch. 

“During the night, while asleep, the victim felt as if she was dreaming that she was having sex and woke up to find the accused on top of her. She was shocked, pushed him away, and asked him what he was doing. The accused apologised. She asked if he knew what he was doing was rape; he apologised again and said he would do anything to show he was sorry,” detailed Ntabazalila from court testimony.

After not feeling herself throughout the day at the soccer tournament, the victim reported to her friend that she had been raped by the accused.  

“The victim’s friend apologised for what had happened. The accused’s girlfriend sat him down and asked him what had happened. He initially denied that he raped her, but later confirmed that they had sexual intercourse. She told her boyfriend that she would push for the victim to open a case if he indeed raped her,” said Ntabazalila.

On September 4, after informing her family and brother, the rape victim laid criminal charges against Manentsa. 

“During his testimony, the accused denied the rape and insisted that they had consensual oral sex. The court rejected the accused’s version as improbable. It questioned why the victim would falsely implicate the accused of rape for no apparent reason after he allowed her to sleep in his premises,” said Ntabazalila. 

The NPA welcomed the conviction as it marks a significant step towards justice for the sexual offence victim.

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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