News
‘Bravery of a Six-Year-Old’: Man Gets Life for Raping Blind Elderly Woman
A Northern Cape man who raped a blind elderly woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Mothibistad Regional Court.
The court found 27-year-old Thato Lekgoe guilty on one count of housebreaking with intent to rape and one count of rape.
The Crime
The incident occurred on 2 March 2024 in Letlhakajaneng village near Kuruman.
The accused broke into the home of an 84-year-old blind woman and raped her.
Armed with a knife and an axe, Lekgoe entered the room where two minor family membersaged between six and eightwere asleep. He overpowered the woman and raped her.
The Six-Year-Old Hero
In a remarkable act of bravery, the six-year-old child managed to hide the axe.
Later, the child identified Lekgoe using a cellphone lighta crucial step in the investigation.
The Trial
The matter experienced initial delays due to outstanding DNA results, which ultimately linked the accused to the crime.
During the trial, Lekgoe denied the allegations, claiming he had been framed. The court rejected his version as implausible.
The Sentence
In aggravation, state prosecutor Bernice Bronkhorst-Oor presented a victim impact statement detailing the “profound psychological trauma” the elderly woman suffered, including fear for her safety and humiliation.
“The court found that the brutal and degrading nature of the crime, coupled with the accused’s lack of remorse, warranted the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.”
Lekgoe was also:
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Declared unfit to possess a firearm
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Declared unsuitable to work with elderly people
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His name was entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders
The Support System
The NPA acknowledged the critical role of court preparation officer Beauty Moreeng , who ensured witnesses, particularly the young child, were prepared to testify.
The Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) in Kuruman provided immediate medical care, psychosocial support, and assistance throughout the criminal justice process.
The Bottom Line
A six-year-old hid an axe. A blind elderly woman was raped. A man got life.
The NPA says: “The NPA remains committed to combating gender-based violence and femicide, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable, and victims receive justice and support.”
{Source: Citizen}
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