Botlokwa man (27) sentenced to life imprisonment for rape of girl (7)
The man's name has since been entered into the national register for sexual offenders.
LIMPOPO – The Morebeng Regional Court has sentenced a 27-year-old Botlokwa man to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a 7-year-old.
The name of the accused is hidden as he is the neighbour of the victim, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Limpopo Spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.
Malabi-Dzhangi told Review that the court heard on 15 January 2016 that the accused lured three children, between the ages of six and seven 7 years, from the Botlokwa area, to his house to watch a movie on his laptop. “The other two children went to the toilet and the accused undressed the girl and raped her. The other children saw the victim crying and wearing her clothes, left the scene and reported the incident to their siblings,” she explained.
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The man was arrested later that day after the police were alerted by the siblings of the complainant. “He pleaded not guilty during his trial and chose to remain silent, however, the child testified through intermediary. The DNA positively linked him to the offence and doctor’s medical evidence confirmed the complainant’s allegations,” Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said.
She added that, in aggravation of his sentence, the victim impact report, which was compiled by the social worker, was submitted to the court. “It demonstrated the impact the rape has on the victim and her family. The prosecutor, advocate Norman Makhubele, said that the victim will live with the memory of the incident for the rest of her life. He further pleaded with the court to remove the accused from the community and sentence the accused to life imprisonment,” she said.
Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi added that the court agreed with the prosecution and sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm and further ordered that the names of the accused be entered in the national register for sexual offenders.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, advocate Ivy Thenga, commended the prosecutor and investigation team for their endless efforts in the fight against gender-based violence,” concluded Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.
