Former emergency services operator in Lydenburg, sentenced to life for raping a minor
When handing down the sentence, Judge MJ Ngobeni agreed with the state and ordered the maximum sentence for rape and sexual grooming.
A 57-year-old man from Lydenburg has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and sexually grooming a minor.
The sentencing took place on August 28 in the Mashishing Regional Court. According to Section 50 (2) (A) of Law 32 of 2007, the life sentence for one count of rape and a two-year sentence for sexual grooming of a minor, will run concurrently with the life sentence.
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“The man was arrested on March 15, 2021 in Lydenburg and was kept in custody in the local police cells. In 2021, he was transferred to the Mbombela Correctional Services for detention until his sentencing. He had been granted bail, but he deviated from the bail conditions and was rearrested,” said Sergeant Cave Dilebo, the Lydenburg police spokesperson.
According to Dilebo, he had intimidated witnesses. The minor testified in camera about what had transpired on the day of the incident. According to court statements, the sexual assault took place when the girl visited the accused at his residence. The girl informed her mother, and a police case was opened.
Ngobeni agreed with the state, and therefore did not find compelling and substantial reasons to depart from the prescribed maximum sentence.
During his trial, the man did not express remorse for his crimes. Moreover, Ngobeni mentioned that the accused was unsuitable to work with children in the future. The accused was deemed unfit to possess a firearm, and the court ordered his name to be entered on the National Register of Sexual Offenders.
Colonel Lota Motsileng, the station commander of the Lydenburg police congratulated the police and the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant, Gabisile Mtau, on the sentencing.
The rapist’s name has been concealed to protect the identity of the child.
