Limpopo Man Cleared as Father in Statutory Rape Case Following Paternity Test Results

The case involving a 28-year-old Limpopo man, Ditebogo Frans Gololo, who had been accused of impregnating a 13-year-old girl, has taken an unexpected turn. Paternity tests have revealed that Gololo is not the biological father of the child, despite earlier allegations.

Gololo had appeared at the Seshego Magistrate’s Court facing charges of statutory rape. The 13-year-old girl, who resides in Seshego township, had given birth to a baby boy on Christmas Day 2024, leading to accusations that Gololo was the father. However, new evidence has shifted the course of the case.

According to Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo, DNA tests have confirmed that Gololo is not the biological father of the child. The paternity results have prompted the case to be reassessed. Gololo was initially arrested on December 26, 2024, by the Seshego Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit.

“The DNA results have excluded Gololo as the father of the child,” Dzhangi confirmed. “The case docket will now be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further directives.”

Gololo, who had been facing charges of statutory rape and sexual grooming of a minor, had his sexual grooming charge dropped due to a lack of sufficient evidence. His case was postponed to May 5, 2025, with the accused released on bail of R1,500.

The case sheds light on the ongoing issue of teenage pregnancies in South Africa. In January, the Department of Health reported a decline in the number of teen mothers, from 145 cases recorded in 2023 to just under 90 in 2024. The decrease is attributed to various public health initiatives, including the Sexual Reproductive Health and Healthy Lifestyle Campaign and the rollout of Youth Friendly Zones in primary health facilities, which aim to provide young people with easier access to sexual and reproductive health services.

The case continues to develop, with the legal proceedings set to unfold in May. While Gololo’s paternity has been ruled out, the legal questions surrounding the statutory rape charge remain, and further investigation will be required as the case progresses.

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