The Randburg Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Johannes Motshabi to life imprisonment for kidnapping and raping a seven-year-old minor, in Diepsloot in July 2019
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane explained that the accused was 27 years old at the time.
“He grabbed his neighbour’s childwho was playing with other children in the street, took her to his shack and raped her,” Mjonondwane said.
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“On her way home, the minor met an unknown person and informed them about the incident. The person went with her to the accused’s place where they found his mother and alerted her of what transpired. Motshabi’s mother escorted the minor home, where the police were called, and the accused was arrested.”
Though the child’s evidence was that of a single witness, the court found it to be credible and corroborated by medical evidence.
In hoping the court would not deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, State Advocate Given Mbedzi argued that the minor’s innocence was brutally taken by someone she knew and trusted.
He further pleaded with the court to consider the report compiled by the probation officer from the Department of Social Development, Jabulani Mbala, wherein the victim’s mother stated that the minor was not coping and had been left with trauma.
“The National Prosecuting Authority commends court preparation officer Judin Mbalati for providing support to the minor child and ensuring that she [was] ready to tell her ordeal in court, the investigating officer… from the Diepsloot Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, and Advocate Mbedzi for their role in this successful prosecution.”
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