The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed a court decision to sentence a Diepsloot rapist to life imprisonment.
This after Randburg Magistrates’ Court sentenced 30-year-old Johannes Motshabi to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and rape of a seven-year-old in Diepsloot in July 2019.
NPA regional spokesperson Phindile Mjonondwane said the accused was 27 years old at the time when he grabbed his neighbour’s child, who was playing with other children in the street, into his house. “The accused took the victim to his shack and raped her. On her way home, the minor met an unknown person and informed them about the incident. The person went with her to the accused’s place where they found the suspect’s mother and alerted her of what transpired. Motshabi’s mother escorted the minor home and the South African Police Service were called and the accused was arrested,” Mjonondwane said.
“Though the evidence was that of a single witness, the court found it to be credible and corroborated by medical evidence. We were praying for the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment.”
Mjonondwane also commended Court Preparation Officer Judin Mbalati for providing support to the child and ensuring that the victim was ready to tell her ordeal in court.
She also praised the investigating officer Sergeant Gaohengwe Mokwai of the Diepsloot Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for their role in this successful prosecution of the perpetrator.
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