Mankweng Regional Court has handed down a lengthy jail sentence of a life term and additional 5 years imprisonment against a rape and sexual assault accused, aged 35-years-old on Tuesday, 26 November 2024.
During court proceedings, it was revealed that the victim, a 13-year-old girl was sexually abused by her stepfather between 19 May 2019 and 25 June 2020. She shared the awful incident with her friends at school.
Polokwane Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit received an anonymous tip off about the sexual abuse incident of a minor child at an unknown address.
Then, Warrant Officer Chuene Selolo launched an intensive investigation that resulted in the conviction and subsequent sentencing of the accused. The victim was traced from the given primary school but was not found due to covid-19 restrictions. The investigations continued until the victim was located in Mankweng with her mother. The victim explained that the sexual abuse began when she was in grade 4.
Meanwhile, when the mother was working night shifts, the accused would return home at night and find the victim sleeping and then sexually abuse her.
As their house was still under construction, the child shared a bedroom with a stepfather and a mother. The rape continued repeatedly.
During the investigation, the victim was taken for a medical examination. The medical experts confirmed penetration. The victim was subsequently removed from her mother’s care and placed under her biological father’s paternal supervision.
The victim did not report the incident to the mother, as she was afraid of the stepfather. Detective Warrant Officer Chuene Selolo and Sergeant Lucy Ngobeni traced the suspect and arrested him on 27 July 2020 for rape and sexual assault.
During the arrest, the accused applied for bail and the investigating officers, Warrant Officer Choene Selolo and Sergeant Lucy Ngoveni, opposed the bail.However, it was later granted with conditions. The accused was sentenced as follows:
Count 1: Rape: 1 life imprisonment
Count 2: Sexual assault: 05 years imprisonment
The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the sentencing and praised the investigating officers, Warrant Officer Chuene Selolo and Sergeant Lucy Ngobeni as well as a community member for providing significant information ensuring a breakthrough in this case.
