By Staff Reporter
MANKWENG-The Mankweng Regional Court has on Friday convicted and sentenced a 29-year-old man of Tjatjaneng Ga-Mothapo, to three life imprisonment, for the rape of a 12-year-old minor girl.
The man, whose cannot be mentioned to protect the victim as they are related, pleaded not guilty.
The court heard that on 18 August 2021, the victim was back from school when she found her uncle having sexual intercourse with another woman in the house.
The woman ran out of the house and the uncle dragged the child before raping her.
He then stopped when he heard the victim’s brother coming in.
Two days after the incident he continued to rape the victim after she refused to call the woman she found him with.
The minor reported the matter on 12 September 2021 to her mother.
According to the NPA Limpopo Division Regional Spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi there was no DNA evidence as the matter was reported to the police late.
“The J88 was handed in to corroborate the evidence of the forensic nurse who testified about the injuries the victim sustained throughout the ordeal.
The victim also testified through the assistance of the Court Intermediary, as she was a minor. Victim Impact Statement was also handed in court which explains how the incident affected her emotionally, physically and her studies.”; she said.
In aggravation of the sentence, Advocate Makgomothi Masehela submitted that the accused failed to protect the victim as her uncle and he did not only damage her physically but he mentally destroyed her.
Masehela further said that crimes of this nature are prevalent within the court’s jurisdiction.
He concluded by saying there are no substantial or compelling circumstances for the court to deviate from imposing the minimum sentence.
The presiding officer Hele Botha could not find any compelling circumstances to deviate from the minimum sentence act and sentenced the accused to three life imprisonment.
