By Agreement Mabunda
SESHEGO-The Regional Court of Seshego has on Wednesday 04 October 2023 convicted and handed over a hefty sentence of two life imprisonment to a 52-year-old accused of raping his stepdaughter.
The court heard that the accused who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, a 12-year-old girl whom he repeatedly raped in November 2019 in the absence of the mother.
The Court heard that on Monday 06 January 2020 at about 08:30 in the morning, the mother of the victim found the accused red-handed in a tussling with the victim trying to rape her while she wrapped herself with a towel as she was about to bath and the mother found him in progress.
The victim further revealed the ordeal of the two previous incidents of rape that occurred in the year 2019 and the victim kept it secret as she was threatened that if she reveals she will be killed by the accused.
The case of rape was opened at Seshego Police Station afterwards and transferred to the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation and it was assigned to Detective Sergeant Mmakwena Ngwepe.
The accused was granted bail after he handed himself to the Police’ following the successful manhunt for him from his place of employment.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the Court Outcome pointing out that this will serve as a deterrent to other would-be rapists.
The Court has ordered that the details of the accused be endorsed in the Register for Sexual Offenders and he is declared unfit to possess a firearm.
