Rapist to spend life behind bars

A 28-year-old man was on Friday sentenced to life imprisonment in the Naphuno Regional Court for raping a 16-year-old girl three years ago.

Masilo Phillip Maenetja from Lephephane village in Maake was found guilty of kidnapping and raping the girl in September 2011.

Maenetja was also handed a five-year jail sentence for kidnapping. The two sentences will run concurrently.

Tzaneen cluster police spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe said the teenage girl was grabbed by Maenetje from the gate of her home one afternoon.

“He threatened her before forcefully dragging her to his house where he repeatedly raped her until the following morning. The girl opened a case immediately after her release and Maenetja was arrested,” said Ngoepe.

Ngoepe commended the investigating officer for her hard work which led to the successful conviction.

He said the life sentence would serve as a deterrent to would-be rapists.