Mahwelereng court hands life sentence to 28-year-old for rape of 13-year-old

The Mahwelereng Regional Court in Limpopo has sentenced a 28-year-old man to life imprisonment after convicting him of raping a 13-year-old girl, a ruling the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) described as a victory for child protection.

Attack and arrest

The court heard the attack occurred on 20 September 2024. The offender cornered the girl as she walked to a local shop, forced her into his home and raped her. Before letting her leave, the man handed the victim a mobile phone.

The victim hid the phone at home. Her aunt later found the device, and the child then told her mother and aunt what had happened. The family reported the incident to police and the man was arrested.

Court proceedings and sentence

Although the accused pleaded not guilty, the prosecution presented evidence that led to his conviction. The presiding judge found there were no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify a lighter sentence and imposed life imprisonment.

The judge emphasised that offenders who target vulnerable children must face the full weight of the law.

Responses

During sentencing arguments, Prosecutor Mboyi said:

Rape remains a prevalent crime despite the imposition of severe penalties by the courts.

The NPA’s director of public prosecutions in Limpopo, Adv Ivy Thenga, welcomed the sentence and said:

All cases of sexual violence infringe on the constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, and bodily integrity of victims.

Identity protection

Authorities withheld the convict’s name to protect the young victim’s identity and shield her from further trauma.

Editor’s note: article corrected to reflect the sentence length and attributions reported in the original source.