The Waterval Regional Court sentenced a 42-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a four-year-old minor. The accused was the friend of the victim’s father.
During the trial proceedings, it was heard that on 02 December 2022, the victim and her 10-year-old brother were with their father at their residence at Mbokota Phola Park in Waterval policing precinct when his friend visited him as usual. The father informed his friend that he was going out to do part-time jobs since the children’s mother would be returning from town soon.
The two men left the house, but the accused returned and sent the elder child to the shops while he remained with the victim and raped her. He then left the house.
The neighbours became suspicious after noticing that the accused returned to the house alone and sent the other child to the shops. They then alerted the mother when she returned. She immediately took the child to the clinic, where it was confirmed that she had been raped.
The police were called to the scene, and this led to the arrest of the accused. The case was transferred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit in Makhado and assigned to Detective Sergeant Grace Nthambeleni Hadzhi.
Bail was successfully opposed and subsequent to diligent efforts and thorough investigation of the Investigating Officer, the accused was convicted and ultimately sentenced on Tuesday, 23 July 2024.
The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the sentence and applauded all the role players, Makhado FCS Unit, particularly the Investigating Officer, for ensuring that the accused is sentenced to life imprisonment for this horrendous crime.
“The sentence serves to send a stern message that there will be no mercy to those who commit atrocious crimes against children,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
