By Agreement Mabunda
POLOKWANE-The Thabamoopo Regional Court in Lebowakgomo has sentenced a 32-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a minor on Thursday, 16 November 2023.
The court heard that Sello Moleke Mazwi who was 26 at the time, raped a 13-year-old girl on 21 January 2017 along the road in Mashite Village under the Lebowakgomo policing area.
The Court further heard that the victim was with her friend returning from church when they met the man who was known to the victim’s friend.
He then offered to escort them home but they started with the friend and the victim was left alone with the accused.
Along the way, the accused threatened to strangle the victim before he raped her on a secluded road. The accused thereafter accompanied the victim home and threatened her not to tell anyone about the incident.
The case was successfully investigated by Warrant Officer Phakiso Gololo of Lebowakgomo Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General, Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the life sentence handed down by the
“We applaud the sterling investigations conducted by the FCS Unit that secured the life imprisonment sentence. This sentence will send a strong message against child rapists that the police are determined to deal with crimes perpetrated against women and children,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
