MAN WHO RAPED AN 18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN GROBLERSDAL SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT

The Groblersdal Regional Court has on Wednesday, 07 February 2024, sentenced a 24-year-old man to ten years imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old woman in Groblersdal in 2020.

The trial court heard that the victim on Monday, 06 July 2020 at about 18:30, was walking along the R579 when an unknown man grabbed her from behind and threatened to stab her with a knife. The accused then dragged the victim to an abandoned house where he raped her.

It was further heard that the accused fell asleep, and the victim grabbed the knife and stabbed him, and that’s how she managed to escape. The distraught and naked woman ran to the nearby house to seek help, and police were called.

The suspect was arrested shortly after the incident and was positively linked with the rape through DNA.

The case was thoroughly investigated by Sergeant Alfred Mphahlele attached to the Groblersdal Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers has welcomed the lengthy sentence and reiterated that this is a clear message that the perpetrators of gender-based violence will be dealt with harshly and without compromise.